|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

Cell Phone Electromagnetic Dangers

Many alternative health advocates propose that cell phones carry potential electromagnetic dangers. Among the most prevalent are Dr. Joseph Mercola, an Osteopathic Physician, and Kevin Trudeau, a Consumer Advocate. The theory is that cellular phones give off a type of radiation similar to that of a microwave, and that this radiation can have potentially negative side effects with continual use.

  1. Negligible Side Effects

    • Certain side effects are small and result in only minor discomfort. These can include the cell phone warming up and maybe heating the side of your face/head. They also can include a general fogginess or lack of mental focus. However negligible these side effects can be, they may be indicators of potentially larger problems.

    Minor Side Effects

    • Side effects that are more difficult to ignore have been documented in the journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. According to these researchers from the UK, users report "dizziness, disorientation, nausea, headache, and transient confusion." Headaches tend to start shortly after the call and last as long as two hours. Most users reported that if they reduced their usage and kept calls to a minimum, these side effects decreased.

    Accumulative Effects

    • Studies have been published in the last few years that have linked cellular phone use to brain cancer. For example, a study from the European Journal of Cancer Prevention reported that not only was there an increase in overall brain cancer rate in users of cell phones, but the cancer tended to be on the same side of the head that was the user's dominant side. This is further evidence that there might be a link.

      Additionally, according to world-renowned strength coach, Charles Poliquin, research has shown that wearing your cell phone on your hip can lower your androgen levels (testosterone/progesterone) by as much as 31 percent. This can cause a number of issues as the body continues to age, including sarcopenia (muscle loss), osteopenia (bone loss) and even osteoporosis.

Environmental Health - Related Articles