Of Cellphones and Popcorn

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on November 13, 2008

Are your kids begging you for their own cell phones? Before you give in and expand your family calling plan, consider this. Some scientists warn that cell phone use may be linked to certain brain and nervous system tumors. While the evidence isn’t all in, concern has been raised. An editorial by neurosurgeon Dr. Ron Pawl in the November issue of Surgical Neurology is calling for a collaborative research initiative to determine whether or not cell phones are indeed a danger.

Researchers have long worried that repetitive exposure to electromagnetic fields (ELF) was linked to some cancerous brain tumors, gliomas and neuromas. Early 2008, a Swedish research group released findings from their study that indicated people who had been using cell phones for ten years or longer were more likely to develop tumors. These tumors were more likely to appear on the same side of the head as the cell phone was used. They also found the same elevated risks among users of wireless handsets with cordless home phones.

“The fact that the incidence of gliomas, especially the more malignant varieties, is increasing […] warrants action on this issue,” Pawl wrote. “It seems that a cooperative effort by both the scientific community and state governing bodies will be needed. Some spearhead is now necessary in view of the magnitude and seriousness of the situation.”
One author of study concluded that long-term cell phone use is “more dangerous to health than smoking cigarettes.”

These scientists’ concerns are heightened because so many people use cell phones so often. ELF may cause even more damage to the growing brain, especially in younger children as their skulls are thinner. The British-based National Radiological Protection Board recommends children younger than age eight not use cell phones.

University of Washington studies support this concern. A University of Washington scientist found that 70 – 80% of the energy emitted from a mobile phone antenna is absorbed by the head.
Even so, the FDA has not seen enough scientific evidence to issue any warning about cell phone use in general or specifically among children. Some researchers beg to differ. “Not very much research has been done on children or young animals [which can serve as models for children], but the results from other studies seem to indicate that there is a cause for concern,” said Henry Lai, researcher the University of Washington department of bioengineering.

Parents can do a little fun research of their own. A search of www.YouTube.com for “cell phone popcorn test” provides several short clips from around the world showing young people pointing their ringing cell phones at unpopped kernels of popcorn. Within seconds, the kernels pop. Whether or not these clips are a hoax, minimizing children’s cell phone use could be a good idea while waiting to see what researchers discover over the next few years.