How safe is your cell phone?
You know that cell phones are just two-way radios, right?
And that when you’re talking on one that you’re really talking into a two-way radio broadcasting a very, very high-frequency signal right next to your head.
Yes, I know scientifically that it’s a very low-power signal being transmitted but it still is producing near-microwave frequency radiation that might be absorbed into nearby soft tissue. Your brain, for instance.
That’s why some experts believe it’s a good idea to keep your cell phones conversations short in duration – and also keep the number of those conversations to a minimum. That’s especially for adults who are always talking on their cell phones. And, that goes double and triple for children.
Which brings us to the research of people calling themselves the Environmental Working Group. They say they consist of a “team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers (who) pore over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and (their) own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions”.
On their EWG “Get A Safer Phone” Website, the group has published lists containing the results of what they’ve found. There’s a list for regular “feature phones” cellphones and another for smartphones. There’s even a quick and easy look-up system to see how well your current handset has fared.
All of this is even more interesting because the City of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has just passed a law requiring retailers to post notices on just how much radiation is reportedly being emitted by cellphones they sell. They hope this information will help consumers make a “safer” choice. That’s if consumers think this is important enough to care about in a world of iPhones, Androids, Blackberries and the like.
All of this sounds very ominous and scary. I’m not sure it should be your first priority when you buy a phone but being aware of your phone’s radiation numbers could make a difference.