Food & Drug Administration on Cell Phone Safety
(Evidence on possible health risks inconclusive) (2540)

Every year, the numbers of people using cellular telephones increases by the millions. The convenience of these devices is indisputable, but their safety remains inconclusive. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports, "the available scientific evidence does not allow us to conclude that mobile phones are absolutely safe, or that they are unsafe."

The potential risk of a mobile phone comes from its emission of low levels of radiofrequency radiation (RF), the same type of energy that comes off a microwave oven. The RF pulses off the device's antenna right next to the user's head, and that proximity to the brain is what concerns some researchers.

The FDA says the research in this field is conflicting, but points up two findings that merit further examination. One study showed an association between mobile phone use and one rare type of brain cancer, but the FDA report also underscores that the finding could have been chance. A second study suggests that cell phone radiation may have some effect on an individual's genetic material.

None of the data warrants intervention by the FDA, the consumer update says, but the agency is pursuing further action. It is urging the mobile phone industry to conduct further research; design phones to minimize RF exposure to the user; and keep the public informed about health issues surrounding the use of these devices.

Despite its cautions about the inconclusive nature of any findings about health risks, the FDA does offer some suggestions to cell-phone using consumers: don't hold prolonged conversations on the mobile phone; use a phone design that moves the antenna away from the head.

Hmmmm, inconclusive?! Your head and your brain heat up significantly when you talk on a cell phone or cordless phone.  Have you ever felt it?  Following is an article written by Michael Donaldson, Ph D of Hallelujah Acres, who doesn’t agree that information and facts are inconclusive!

Cell phones are one of the modern conveniences that more than 100 million of us in the USA have gotten very attached to. There have been occasions when I wished I had one, and a few times I’m very glad that someone else had one. I know that many people rely heavily on these phones and use them extensively. In the midst of their convenience comes the nagging question—are these phones safe? This article will update you on current findings on cell phones as well as tell you about how you can make your cell phone a safer phone.

Are Cell Phones Dangerous?

What exactly is the problem with cell phones? Cell phones use microwave beams (or fields of radiation) to connect to the nearest cell tower. The cell phone emits the same radiation in all directions. Can this radiation penetrate into your head? A study showed that it does penetrate an inch or so into an adult’s head. This is disturbing enough. However, cell-phone radiation penetrates halfway through a 5-year-old’s brain, and almost a third of the way into a 10-year-old’s brain. Surely this can’t be a good thing.

A series of case-control studies from Dr. Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD, of Sweden which have examined long-term cell phone users have found marked increase in brain and auditory nerve cancer on the cell-phone side of the head. One of their studies found a 3.9-fold (390%) increase in risk of auditory nerve cancer on the same side of the head as the phone was normally used for those who used a cell phone for more than 10 years. Dr. Hardell’s research group found the same amount of risk in a large case-control study of 1,617 brain tumor victims. The Interphone case-control study in 5 European  countries has found an 80% increased risk of a tumor on the same side of the head as reported phone use for those who usedcell phones for more than 10 years.So, it is very clear to me that long-term regular cell phone use is a risky habit, with results that will only manifest themselves 10-15 years down the road.