It’s something we take for granted every day in the modern world, but new research has heightened fears that there might be a link between cellphones and cancer. And talking on your phone presents the greatest possible risk.
The World Health Organisation agency (WHO) has expressed concern that cellphones might cause brain cancer, citing a review of studies.
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from handsets was greater than that from phone towers and base stations, said Robert Baan, a scientist in charge of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report on the subject.
Cellphones could cause cancer. On the web
Bloomberg reported that the fields were “possibly” carcinogenic, the same category as diesel fuel, chloroform and working as a firefighter, according to the IARC.
This was the first time an agency working group had surveyed research on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to make a definitive classification, the IARC said. The agency said more study was needed after finding some evidence for an increased risk of glioma, or brain cancer.
“It’s not at the moment clearly established that the use of mobile phones does in fact cause cancer,” said Kurt Straif, the head of the IARC Monographs Programme, adding that the research pointed to ways in which risks might be lowered. “For example, the highest exposure is from voice calls. If you use text messaging or headsets, this will lower the exposure.”
The Washington Post
Science ultimately may be able to prove whether or not you risk your health by using a cellphone, but right now science has already proved something else about cellphones. Something you should already know: They are really annoying.
Cellphones give us intimate and frequently unwanted insights into the lives of others. Is it really necessary to learn the details of a recent colonoscopy from the diner sitting at the next table in a restaurant? Or that your little darling aced his entrance exam AND was selected for the school golf team? It may seem that cellphones annoy us simply because we think someone talking loudly in a public setting, especially to an invisible companion, is rude. But our reaction may also be biological.
In fact, brain science may explain why we are annoyed by lots of the small disturbances of daily life. Humans are programmed to impose order on ourselves; we get annoyed when the unpredictable messes up that programme. Think of random, unwanted chatter at work when you’re trying to concentrate on a difficult task (with a stiff deadline).And while many of our annoyances are highly idiosyncratic and individualised, cellphone chatter is a universal irritant, transcending race, age, gender and culture.
Read more here for scientific basis. Unclear whether cellphones cause cancer, but science proves they are annoying: