Nowadays we spend huge amounts of time talking, texting, chatting, browsing and playing on our mobile phones. This made me wonder: can all this time spent on those devices be harmful?
Well, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer - IARC (a unit of the World Health Organization) there is but one straight answer to such question and it’s (unfortunately): YES.
In the press realease no. 208 of May 31, 2011 the IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increase risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.
The study
From May 24 to May 31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries held meetings at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to
radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.
The IARC Working Group discussed the possibility that these exposures might induce long‐term health effects, in particular an increased risk for cancer. This has relevance for public health, particularly for users of mobile phones, as the number of users is large and growing, particularly among young adults and children.
The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed and evaluated the available literature on the following exposure categories involving radiofrequency electromagnetic fields:
¾ occupational exposures to radar and to microwaves;
¾ environmental exposures associated with transmission of signals for radio, television and
wireless telecommunication; and
¾ personal exposures associated with the use of wireless telephones.
International experts shared the complex task of tackling the exposure data, the studies of
cancer in humans, the studies of cancer in experimental animals, and the mechanistic and
other relevant data.
Conclusions
Dr Jonathan Samet (University of Southern California, USA), overall Chairman of the Working
Group, indicated that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a
conclusion and the 2B classification. The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and
therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."
"Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings," said IARC
Director Christopher Wild, "It is important that additional research be conducted into the long‐ term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting."
The Working Group considered hundreds of scientific articles.
Considerations
There’s nothing else to do but to talk less on your mobile phone or otherwise use the earphones.
The Iron You
Well, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer - IARC (a unit of the World Health Organization) there is but one straight answer to such question and it’s (unfortunately): YES.
In the press realease no. 208 of May 31, 2011 the IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increase risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.
The study
From May 24 to May 31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries held meetings at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to
radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.
The IARC Working Group discussed the possibility that these exposures might induce long‐term health effects, in particular an increased risk for cancer. This has relevance for public health, particularly for users of mobile phones, as the number of users is large and growing, particularly among young adults and children.
The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed and evaluated the available literature on the following exposure categories involving radiofrequency electromagnetic fields:
¾ occupational exposures to radar and to microwaves;
¾ environmental exposures associated with transmission of signals for radio, television and
wireless telecommunication; and
¾ personal exposures associated with the use of wireless telephones.
International experts shared the complex task of tackling the exposure data, the studies of
cancer in humans, the studies of cancer in experimental animals, and the mechanistic and
other relevant data.
Conclusions
Dr Jonathan Samet (University of Southern California, USA), overall Chairman of the Working
Group, indicated that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a
conclusion and the 2B classification. The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and
therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."
"Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings," said IARC
Director Christopher Wild, "It is important that additional research be conducted into the long‐ term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting."
The Working Group considered hundreds of scientific articles.
Considerations
There’s nothing else to do but to talk less on your mobile phone or otherwise use the earphones.
The Iron You
No comments:
Post a Comment