4 Health Hazards From Cell Phone Use
Cell phone use has become widespread. In fact, 91% of adults and 60% of teenagers in the country own a mobile phone.
In addition, based on the studies conducted by the Morningside Recovery Rehabilitation Center, most people spend an estimated 144 minutes every day using their phone within half a day.
As a mobile phone user, you need to know that excessive use of this device can affect your health. According to the World Health Organization, this device transmits radio waves through a series of base stations.
The radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic fields which cannot break chemical bonds. For this reason, it is said that the elderly and young children can suffer long-term effects of radiation waves on the brain; therefore, it is advisable to increase your distance from the device to lower radio frequency exposure.
In recent years, the fear of the radiation emitted by cellular phones has lead to theories about its health hazards.
Do Mobile Phones Cause Cancer And Other Health Problems?
Many people fear that the excessive use of mobile phones can result in higher risk of brain cancer.
Some also believe that pregnant women who use this device excessively during pregnancy can result in having badly behaved children.
But there are three main reasons why many people are worried about the adverse effects of mobile use to a person’s health and wellbeing:
Cellular phones emit radiofrequency (RF) energy or radio waves. This is a form of non-ionizing radiation; thus, the tissues nearest the device will absorb the energy.
A cellular phone’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is a measure of the amount of RF energy absorbed by the body when using the device. According to Professional Testing Inc., a third-party testing laboratory, every handset model caries in RF energy and SAR.
Therefore, before buying a mobile phone, users are encouraged to check whether the RF energy and the SAR are within the safety standard.
The number of mobile phone users is increasing at a very fast pace. As of 2010, there were about 303 million users in the United States. This is based on the information gathered by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
These mobile phone users use this device more frequently over time. For instance, the number and length of each phone call, and the amount of time individuals use their phones have increased.
This increase in mobile use also increases the amount of RF exposure experienced by the users; therefore increasing the risks to their health.
How Mobile Phones Affect Your Health
Increase Stress Levels: Excessive use of mobile phones can have an adverse effect on a person’s stress level.
Based on the study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, the researchers found that there is a direct link between the mental health symptoms of teenagers and the psychosocial aspects of mobile use. Excessive use of this device has also been associated with sleep disturbance and depression symptoms.
Increased Risk Of Cancer: Many people are worried that the radiofrequency energy emitted by mobile phones when held closely to the head will affect their brain and other tissues.
Thankfully, there is still no real evidence that RF energy from this device can cause cancer. The RF energy does not cause DNA damage in a person’s cells.
In one study involving 420,000 mobile phone users over a 20-year period, researchers did not find any evidence of a link between brain tumors and cell phone use.
Negatively Affect The Immune System: Although scientists and researchers still haven’t found a link between cancer and mobile use, there is still the risk of illness.
Frequently touching this device can harbor germs. The oily residue from the mobile phone can have disease-carrying germs which can be found on a toilet seat.
Eye Vision Problems: Staring at this device for long periods can cause eye vision problems in the long run. 70% of Americans are more susceptible to digital eye strain due to excessive cell phone usage, says the Vision Council.
