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Cell Phones Effect on the Human Brain

You may have heard that cell phones can have negative health effects, particularly with the human brain. Scientific research on the topic indicates divergent conclusions on the subject.

  1. Electromagnetic fields

    • Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are produced by radio towers, cell phone towers, televisions, and microwaves. Cell phones produce a relatively low amount of EMF -- around 10 milliwatts.

    EMF and Tumors

    • Some scientific studies have linked brain tumors and other tumors to exposure to EMF fields. The types of devices that can cause the most harm, and the amount of exposure to cause a tumor, has been a matter of considerable debate.

    Current Studies

    • A coalition of cell phone companies started a study called Interphone in 1999. This study is still underway, and some scientists have accused the companies of stalling.

    Interphone Components

    • Some components of the study have been released, and a group called the International EMF Collaborative claims that these components contain selectively chosen data that creates skewed results.

    Current Consensus

    • Currently, the scientific consensus is that cell phones produce a very small amount of EMF, and the average person is more at risk from brain tumors from nearby power lines and televisions.

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