Cellular Phone
- Just the Facts!
CTIA will require wireless phone makers to publish the data,
known as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), for all phones beginning
Aug. 1, 2000. “The SAR isn’t appropriate as a safety measure,”
Dr. George Carlo said. Carlo, who headed the independent Radiation
Protection Project because SAR doesn’t measure time used.
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Microwave radiation absorption occurs at the molecular,
cellular, tissue and whole-body levels. The dominant factor for
net energy absorption by an entire organism is related to the
dielectric properties of bulk water, which ultimately causes transduction
of electromagnetic energy into heat."Cooking"
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Digital cellular telephones transmit information in bursts of
power. The power is turned on and off, and the equipment transmits
for a fraction of the time only and then is silent for the remaining
part of the burst period.
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In one study, mice genetically altered to be predisposed to developing
one type of cancer developed more than twice (200%) as many such
cancers when they were exposed to RF energy compared to controls.
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A report prepared by the United Kingdom government's Independent
Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) was released on May 11,
2000. It stated "We conclude therefore that it is not possible
at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels
below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse
health effects, and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient
to justify a precautionary approach." The report presented
numerous conclusions and recommendations, such as discouraging
the marketing of mobile phones to children and their use of them,
an investigation into the health risks associated with the use
of hands free headsets, radiation exposure levels (expressed in
SAR's) should appear on wireless product product packages and
literature, the circulation of pamphlets by the government to
every household advising the possible health risks and new tower
approval guidelines. Click here for a summary of the report and
its recommendations.
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Genetic toxicology studies should focus on single cell gel studies
of DNA strand breakage and on induction of micronuclei. (These
are the only direct genetoxic effects suggested at this time.)
The need to replicate the Lai and Singh experiments used to demonstrate
microwave-induced DNA strand breakage (Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 69:513-521,
1996) is strengthened by Dr. Lai's recent reports in scientific
meetings that this effort is suppressed by melatonin exposure.
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In a letter submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives in
May 1997, the FDA acknowledged that "Little is known about
the possible health effects of repeated or long-term exposure
to low levels of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) of the types emitted
by wireless communications devices" During February, 2000,
the FDA issued a Nomination reiterating their position, stating
"There is currently insufficient scientific basis for concluding
either that wireless communication technologies are safe or that
they pose a risk to millions of users. A significant research
effort, involving large well-planned animal experiments is needed
to provide the basis to assess the risk to human health of wireless
communications devices."
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Here is what the EPA says about radiation exposure:
"Depending on the level of exposure, radiation can pose a
health risk. It can adversely affect individuals directly exposed
as well as their descendants. Radiation can affect cells of the
body, increasing the risk of cancer or harmful genetic mutations
that can be passed on to future generations; or, if the dosage
is large enough to cause massive tissue damage, it may lead to
death within a few weeks of exposure."Source: EPA 402-F-98-009
May 1998
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The Chairman of WTR, a wireless industry funded organization,
asks the Chairman of AT&T for assistance to inform consumers
about the potential health risks associated with the use of cellular
phones.
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Bluetooth Specification
The Bluetooth wireless technology standard is a specification
for small form factor, low-cost, wireless communication and networking
between PCs, mobile phones and other electronic products. It has
been adapted for use by more than 1,400 companies.
The maximum frequency for wireless products compliant with the
Bluetooth specification is 2.497 GHz. AegisGuard™ Phone Radiation
Shields include the only shielding technology currently available
that deflects radiation emitted by Bluetooth compliant products.
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Wireless Industry Wants To Raise Radiation Exposure Limits
Television news shows broadcast in the United States and Western
Europe during the last half of 1999 combined with additional worldwide
news coverage has resulted in increased public awareness about
the health risks associated with radiation emitted by mobile phones.
Government agencies in the United States, such as the FCC, FDA
and US Congress, and agencies in other nations, responded with
a series of long-term initiatives.
During the summer of 1999, Dr. Om Gandhi reported that many mobile
phones exceed current radiation exposure limits in the ear. The
current limits are being debated worldwide because highly respected
scientists believe they are already too high.
Despite Dr. Om's report and numerous studies presenting irrefutable
evidence about the health risks, wireless industry representatives
attending an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
meeting during October, 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, proposed to
the IEEE's SCC-28 (Standards Coordinating Committee 28), Subcommittee
4 (SC-4) that the current limits be raised. IEEE's SCC-28 encompasses
emission standards from 3 KHz. to 300 GHz.
Representatives from Motorola and Nokia "proposed that for
the general public, the outer ear should be considered an extremity,
similar to the hands, feet, wrists and ankles, and not a vital
organ." The exposure limits for these extremities are higher
than the rest of the body, and they continued with "thus
it is not necessary to protect the outer ear against RF exposure
at the same level as the brain. If the limit for the ear is raised,
maximum power of phones will not be limited unnecessarily."It
was reported after the meeting that the members of SC-4 unanimously
supported this proposal.
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Patent Applications
Phone manufacturers including Alcatel, Ericsson, Hitachi, Mitsubishi
and NEC applied for patents as early as 1992 that included component
designs to lower radiation health risks using various techniques.
For example, one patent application describes a warning device
that signals the user when the maximum permitted output power
is being approached so they can stop using the phone.
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U.S. Senate Bill S.800
The U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives passed Bill
S.800 on August 5, 1999 and October 14, 1999, respectively, to
establish '911' as the national emergency telephone number.
Entitled the `Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of
1999', it grants phone carriers and vendors (phone manufacturers
and dealers) the same immunity as wireline carriers for any liability
associated with the use of their products and services.
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Click here and read the third paragraph of the Bill S.800 Summary.
Then click 'Continue to Section 4" at the end of the paragraph
for the Section in Bill S.800 where vendors are included as "providers
of wireless service" and immunity was granted to them by
the removal of "911" in the Section heading.
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FDA
U.S. phone safety standards are endorsed by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), who admit they "are primarily a regulatory
agency and not an expert on matters pertaining to health and safety."
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) division
of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for establishing
safety standards and ensuring compliance for radiation emitting
products sold in the U.S. that may endanger public health, yet
they were merely an advisor instead of an authority in any capacity
for cellular phones until October 20, 1999.
On that date, a U.S. nationwide news broadcast exposed information
about cellular phone radiation that resulted in immediate responses
from the FCC, FDA and the cellular industry (CTIA). Despite accusations
that the health effects of cellular phone radiation are being
withheld from consumers by the cellular industry and the government,
the FDA proposed a collaborative project with CTIA to investigate
this issue.
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