health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RFR) emitted by cell phone
...the skin and the cerebral cortex, the outer part of the brain. RFR emitted by cell phones to the user’s head have a higher intensity but a shorter time exposure compared to the RFR from base stations. The duration of exposure, the intensity and the frequency of the RFR are major factors. Studies show that exposure to high frequency radiations during long periods, like power lines, radio and television transmitters can lead to: -an increase in the risk of different forms of cancer (blood, skin, esophagus) -an increase in the risk of brain tumors -an increase in the risk of leukemia -decrease of fertility -fatigue, sleep disturbance, headaches, nausea, hypertension and many others. All theses observations have been made on persons subject to different kinds of sources of microwaves. All theses symptoms are known since a decennia but no scientific studies have clearly related them to the RFR. Scientists are still unable to give a biological explanation and can only record the symptoms. So we cannot say how or why, however, we can notice that in an area subject to high frequency radiations the number of cancers is higher than the normal. Hence, according to scientific studies we can only conclude that RFR, like the one emitted by mobile phone, generates an increase in the risk of different kinds of health diseases to people living in areas subject to these radiations. Therefore we can think that there is a high possibility of hazardous health effects to exposure to RFR emitted by cellular phones. B) Ethical issues Some ethical issues arise with the use of sources of RFR such as cell phones. Should we authorize the use of technology that can be harmful to the public? Should we wait until scientists are able to prove that these RFR really have dangerous effects on health? Who will be responsible if scientists later discover that cell phones are harmful for their users? Cell phone companies, governments or consumers? It is simply unmoral from cell phone manufactures to have developed such products regardless of the consequences that they may have on their users. As a future engineer, and knowing that the first point in the chart of ethic for our profession is “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties”, I think that they should have waited for a better knowledge on possible consequences on health before commercializing such products. Today, enormous financial interest is involved in the market of cell phones and telecommunications. It represents hundreds of billions of dollars with a 20% increase of the sales each year. Furthermore, the cell phone became an essential product in our modern society. For all theses reasons it is unimaginable to stop or to prohibit their commercialization now. An article of G. Patrick Pawling dated from the 22nd January of 2001 and published on the CCN website reveals that a federal judge let stand a lawsuit against the fabricants of cell phones for manufacturing and selling products that can be dangerous for the user’s health and for not providing sufficient information on the risks of their products. This lawsuit represents a major defeat for wireless communication companies because it was the first time a magistrate recognized that they were aware of the risk of their product and did not do anything to remedy it. If the hazardous effect of mobile phone is proved, the industry of mobile telecommunications would be in the same situation the industry of tobacco is in today. C) Several recommendations to limit the risk of the possible hazardous health effects of RFR exposure Another article published on the CNN website on August 28th 2000, reveals that the major mobile phone manufacture will label on their phone the amount of RFR emitted during a call. We are far away from the use of dissuading pictures of smoking effects as shown on cigarette packs sold in several European countries, however it is a first step on providing information about the risks engendered by the customer. Unfortunately, the use of this kind of label is still not in service. Governments should force the manufacturer to put some warning label that inform on the radiation emitted and the risk that can have RFR on health. In this way consumers are responsible to decide whether to use them or not. Some specific tax should be perceived on mobile phone manufactures to finance research on the possible effect on health until some concrete conclusions are reached. Children can be particularly affected by radiations. Considering that thei...