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Old 01-20-2004, 01:38 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Fresh Fears Over Cell Phones

From POPULAR SCIENCE:

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/medicin...573349,00.html

Quote:
Neuroscience: A Swedish study links mobile phones to brain damage. In rats, anyway.

by Elizabeth Svoboda

February 2004

The safety of cellphones has been called into question, again. This time the scientific community is paying very close attention.

Last summer neurosurgeon Leif Salford and colleagues at Lund University in Sweden published data showing for the first time an unambiguous link between microwave radiation emitted by GSM mobile phones (the most common type worldwide) and brain damage in rats. If Salford's results are confirmed by follow-up studies in the works at research facilities worldwide, including one run by the U.S. Air Force, the data could have serious implications for the one billion?plus people glued to their cellphones.

The findings have re-ignited a longstanding debate among scientists and cellphone manufacturers over cellphone safety.

Many of the hundreds of studies performed during the past decade suggest cellphone use may cause a host of adverse effects, including headaches and memory loss. Other studies, however, have shown no such effects, and no scientific consensus exists about the effect of long-term, low-level radiation on the brain and other organs. A comprehensive $12 million federal investigation of cellphone safety is currently under way but will take at least five years to complete.

Meanwhile, the research world is scrambling to replicate Salford's surprising results. His team exposed 32 rats to 2 hours of microwave radiation from GSM cellphones. Researchers attached the phones to the sides of the rats' small cages using coaxial cables -- allowing for intermittent direct exposure -- and varied the intensity of radiation in each treatment group to reflect the range of exposures a human cellphone user might experience over the same time period. Fifty days after the 2-hour exposure, the rat brains showed significant blood vessel leakage, as well as areas of shrunken, damaged neurons. The higher the radiation exposure level, the more damage was apparent. The controls, by contrast, showed little to no damage. If human brains are similarly affected, Salford says, the damage could produce measurable, long-term mental deficits.

The cellphone industry so far has been quick to dismiss the data, saying emissions from current mobiles fall well within the range of radiation levels the FCC deems safe (body-tissue absorption rates of under 1.6 watts per kilogram). "Expert reviews of studies done over the past 30 years have found no reason to believe that there are any health hazards whatsoever," says Mays Swicord, scientific director of Motorola's Electromagnetic Energy Programs. Dr. Marvin Ziskin, chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Committee on Man and Radiation, is similarly skeptical. "The levels of radiation they used seem way too low to be producing the kinds of effects they're claiming."

Salford is the first to admit that it's too early to draw any conclusions, but contends the unusual results deserve a closer look. "The cellphone is a marvelous invention; it has probably saved thousands of lives," he says. "But governments and suppliers should be supporting more autonomous research." Meanwhile, Salford advises users to invest in hands-free headsets to reduce radiation exposure to the brain.


CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Researchers at Sweden's Lund University say these rat-brain cross-sections show first-ever evidence of brain damage from cellphone radiation. While the controls (example, top) appear healthy, the test subjects (bottom), which were exposed to a 2-hour dose of cellphone radiation of varying intensities, are heavily spotted with proteins (dark patches) leaked from surrounding blood vessels, and show signs of significant neuronal damage.

Courtesy EHP
Personally, I don't have a cell phone. The way I look at it, humans led life without them for thousands of years and did just fine, and I can do the same - at least until more definitive answers come out regarding their safety.

Sure, there are times that I wish I had one, but I manage. Better safe than sorry.

So, what do you think about this? Do you think it's a pile of BS? Does it give you cause for concern? How often do you use your cell phone? Is it a rare occasion that you use it or are you on it quite often? Give us your thoughts.
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Old 01-20-2004, 02:06 AM   #2 (permalink)
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I quit using a cell phone about 3 years ago. It gave me a headache although it may have been psychological. In any case, I figured that the perks of having one might be outweighed by the risks of carrying that thing near to my balls all day, every day.

I don't really miss it -- nothing for me is that urgent, and in an emergency there's always someone else with a phone. I kind of like not being on call.

And the money I've saved these 3 years is nice
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Old 01-20-2004, 03:07 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Doesn't really worry me, as such. I like having a cellphone, its quick and efficient communication.

The human brain degenerates over time anyway, I don't think the effects (if any) of cellphone radiation would be that noticible.
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Old 01-20-2004, 04:54 AM   #4 (permalink)
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My gf uses it a lot more than I do. Unfortunately our vehicle isn't the best so a cell is pretty much a must after being stranded several times. I could walk to a payphone but she just got off knee surgery and can only walk about 1/4 mile or so. They have their use to be sure, it's just in the hands of idiots that makes it a problem, and the funniest thing is now they'll be even dumber!
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Old 01-20-2004, 08:00 AM   #5 (permalink)
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i use mine sparingly.

IMHO the people that use them to pass time and chat are assholes and I see this as a simple darwinian method of weeding out the assholes.
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Old 01-20-2004, 08:03 AM   #6 (permalink)
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No surprise there. It's kinda like having a microwave oven beside your head slowly cooking your brain.
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Old 01-20-2004, 08:27 AM   #7 (permalink)
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I cant stand phones of any type.
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Old 01-20-2004, 09:59 AM   #8 (permalink)
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When my cell phone rings, any PC speakers that I have on in the house (whether the comp attached to them is on or not) go all crazy. They get all staticy and buzz very loudly. This is even if the phone is in the other room. If it can do that- you have to wonder what it is doing to your brain.
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Old 01-20-2004, 10:09 AM   #9 (permalink)
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I actually use my cellphone very often. =(

My girlfriend goes to school several hundred miles away from me, and free night/weekend minutes are a godsend. Sometimes on the weekends we talk for hours.

It's probably bad for my brain =/, but it's nice to hear her voice and I would have to pay out the ass for the regular dorm phone. (not to mention that I'd have to stay close to the base station in my room, and I'd have no privacy.)
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Old 01-20-2004, 11:00 AM   #10 (permalink)
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I have two cell phones, neither of which do I use that often. Reason: I spend all day on the phone trying to drudge up sales, the last thing I want to do is pick up the phone after work and talk more. I actually hate making personal phone calls. Prefer the face to face approach much better.

Oh, I moved a while back, so one cell is for my old work, since clients still call me from time to time there, and the new one is for my new clients.
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Old 01-20-2004, 11:53 AM   #11 (permalink)
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You can take my cell phone when you can pry it from my cold dead fingers.

Which ought to be about three calls from now, as it turns out.
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Old 01-20-2004, 12:06 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by hiredgun
I actually use my cellphone very often. =(

My girlfriend goes to school several hundred miles away from me, and free night/weekend minutes are a godsend. Sometimes on the weekends we talk for hours.

It's probably bad for my brain =/, but it's nice to hear her voice and I would have to pay out the ass for the regular dorm phone. (not to mention that I'd have to stay close to the base station in my room, and I'd have no privacy.)
I'm in the exact same situation. (Well, except that I'm calling my boyfriend. :P) The cell phone has been very convenient for keeping in touch, and far cheaper than long distance. But the idea that it could be hurting my brain is disturbing.
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Old 01-20-2004, 12:11 PM   #13 (permalink)
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funny shit, ratbastid! If it's doing that to your brain, it's probably frying your nuts when it's in your pocket!
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Old 01-20-2004, 08:31 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Hey, maybe now they'll be able to convince people not to talk and drive at the same time!!! Imagine, if you stayed off the for for X minutes a day while driving, you'll save X # of brain cells!
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Old 01-20-2004, 08:50 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by amonkie
Hey, maybe now they'll be able to convince people not to talk and drive at the same time!!! Imagine, if you stayed off the for for X minutes a day while driving, you'll save X # of brain cells!
And those people need every last one of them since they're so short already!
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Old 01-20-2004, 10:55 PM   #16 (permalink)
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I would like to see similar experiments with the headsets.
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Old 01-20-2004, 11:39 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Originally posted by tommyboy
I cant stand phones of any type.
Same here.
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Old 01-21-2004, 12:14 AM   #18 (permalink)
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I'm pretty sure I read in the latest New Scientist that some researchers in Britain had just completed a massive many year test on cellphone-health problems, and they found none, and that this was the most definative investigation so far.

I'm not that concerned either way, I mostly text message so the radiation is very low and is far away from my vital organs. Even when it's in my pocket the radiation is low and very very intermittant and short to my understanding.
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Old 01-21-2004, 04:23 PM   #19 (permalink)
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If I get brain damage then I get brain damage....I dont care...I have used a cell phone for years and I will continue to. They are great to have especially when you are stranded somewhere. Bring on the brain damage...
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Old 01-21-2004, 10:39 PM   #20 (permalink)
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my electro-magnetics professor spent a fair portion of lecture one day proving that drinking a cup of coffee results in more radiation absorbtion than talking on a cell phone... by 3 or 4 orders of magnitude. don't think there's anything to worry about.
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Old 01-22-2004, 06:50 AM   #21 (permalink)
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They need to be able to replicate the results definitively or this is akin to the "scientific" data that showed silicone breast implants to be bad.
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Old 01-22-2004, 08:28 AM   #22 (permalink)
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I do believe there is some damage to be found for this use, however most people end up making bad decisions and not organizing things well when they have the cell phone. Instead of just saying we'll meet somewhere after work, and then deciding what a decent time is, we call each other constantly giving too much information mostly.

Work may get complicated and require the cellphone constantly, however I doubt my personal life will ever get that demanding...

and thankfully, no kids to manage yet!
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Old 01-22-2004, 02:21 PM   #23 (permalink)
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I just got a new cellphone. I'm going to start sleeping with it under my pillow because this story is complete bullshit. Most of you scaredy-cats that won't use a cellphone willingly go outside with your skin unprotected everyday, often getting it wet in pools or with sweat. Chances are skin cancer will get you before your little cellphone will.
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Old 01-29-2004, 11:48 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Guess I'm going to be one of the first to go... I use a cell phone constantly, in my line of work one has too. I agree with "BoCo" and "ratbastid" besides if there is any true damage it's most likely very small, and if it turns out to be a problem they will find it, come out with new phones that don't admit radiation, and my brain will rot and I'll die, that way I won't have to listen to the "I told you so's".
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