Health Risks of Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are an integral part of modern telecommunications, and in some cultures they are the most commonly used communication devices. The use of mobile phones continues to increase. However, there are some concerns over the phones' impact on health.

Traffic Accidents

• According to the World Health Organization, mobile phone use when driving causes an increased risk of traffic accidents. People who use mobile phones when driving are three to four times more likely to have a traffic accident.

Effects

• In addition to driving hazards, other effects of mobile phones include changes in sleep patterns and brain activity. Fortunately, these effects are small enough to have an insignificant effect on health.

Bacteria and Illness

• Healthcare workers are frequently at risk for contracting illnesses from germs found on their hand-held devices.ABC News recently reported that 94.5 percent of phones belonging to healthcare workers were contaminated with some kind of bacteria including "superbugs."

Considerations

• Texting can also carry a health risk by causing a condition called "blackberry thumb." This term is used to describe sores, blisters, and repetitive stress injuries that occur as a result of too much texting and typing.

Brain Tumors

• In October 2009, Fox News reported that a groundbreaking $30 million study conducted by the World Health Organization found a link between long-term cell phone use and brain tumors. The World Health Organization explained that there was a significantly increased risk of brain tumors for those who use their phone for a period of ten years or more.