Friday, June 26, 2009

Heavy Use of Mobile Phones

Heavy users of wireless mobile phones face increased risks of developing severe brain tumors, according to the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the possible link between cancer and the long-term use of cellular telephones. 

Researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life and the University of Oerebro compared the mobile phone use of 4,400 people—half of them cancer patients, and the other half healthy people who made up the control group—and made some disturbing discoveries. 


Heavy Mobile Phone Use Increases Cancer Risk
According to Kjell Hansson Mild, who led the study, heavy users of mobile phones have a 240 percent increased risk of developing a malignant tumor on the side of the head where they press the phone to their ear. 

Published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, the study defines "heavy use" as 2,000 hours of mobile phone use in the course of a decade, which "corresponds to 10 years' use in the work place for one hour per day." 

Of the 2,200 cancer patients in the study, who ranged in age from 20 to 80 years old, 905 had a malignant brain tumor and just under one-tenth of that number were heavy mobile phone users. 

"Of these 905 cases, 85 were so-called high users of mobile phones, that is they began early to use mobile and/or wireless telephones and used them a lot," said the authors of the study in a statement issued by the Institute. 

In addition, the study concluded that early users, defined as people who started using a mobile phone before age 20, are also at greater risk of developing a malignant brain tumor. 

The study also took into account factors such as smoking habits, working history and exposure to other known cancer-causing agents. 

Limit Mobile Calls and Use Handsfree Options
Hansson Mild advised that the best ways for consumers to lower their risk of cancer related to mobile phones are to use their wireless phones less frequently and to use handsfree options when they do make or receive mobile calls. He said the research report about the study is not intended to cause public alarm or to raise concerns about widespread risk for the majority of people who use mobile phones. 

"It does however give reason to use caution when calling on wireless phones," he said in an interview with Dow Jones. "Use handsfree and avoid wireless when possible." 

Swedish Study Breaks New Ground
The Swedish study is the first to show a significant link between long-term mobile phone use and cancer. Previous studies found no evidence that radiation from mobile phones is harmful, but those earlier studies looked at mobile phone use among fewer people over a shorter time. 

The Swedish study is the largest and most comprehensive to date. Also, people in Sweden have been using mobile phones since 1984, longer than people in many other countries, so getting a large sample of people who have been using cellular telephones for a long time was relatively easy.


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Health Concerns

Concerns have been raised about the normal mobile phone, which has the antenna in the handset. In this case, the antenna is very close to the user's head during normal use of the telephone and there is concern about the level of microwave emissions to which the brain is being exposed.

Telephones that have the antenna mounted elsewhere are of little concern, since exposure levels decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the antenna.

Reports have appeared in the media linking the use of mobile telephones with, among other things, headaches, hot spots in the brain and brain cancer.

Media reports have claimed that up to 70 percent of the microwave emissions from hand-held mobile telephones may be absorbed in the user's head. This is not supported by the evidence, but nevertheless leads to speculation that hot spots may be created in the user's brain, thereby raising concerns that the telephones may be a health risk. Other reports have indicated that mobile telephone users suffer localized headaches when they use their telephone. At this stage, it is difficult to evaluate the evidence supporting these reports, since they have not been published.

The brain cancer reports originated in the USA where a number of lawsuits have been lodged against mobile telephone manufacturers and suppliers. These claims for damages allege that the microwave emissions from mobile telephones used by the claimants caused their (in some cases, fatal) brain cancers. Those few cases that have been tried have been dismissed for lack of supporting evidence.

Concern about a possible increased risk of brain cancer in mobile phone users has continued. In response, a major project, INTERPHONE, has been organised. The INTERPHONE project is a multi-national series of epidemiological studies testing whether using mobile phones increases the risk of various cancers in the head and neck. The project comprises national studies from 13 different countries, which are coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Partial results from some of the studies have been published showing no overall association between mobile phone use and head and neck cancer. However some of the studies reported a small association with acoustic neuroma and glioma for prolonged (more than ten years) mobile phone use. A full report of the INTERPHONE project will be made available by IARC once all of the studies are completed.

Precautions to prevent health risks

1. Never keep the cell phone in the left side of pocket as cell waves affect the heart.

2. If you wish to speak in mobile for longer time, change the position cell phone for every one minute from left to right vice versa.

3. If you talk continuously for 45 seconds, the endothelial layer in the year may get damaged.

4. In blue tooth and cell phone, the bad effects of radiation are same. So, use ear phones to decrease the bad effects of radiation.

Though there are controversies regarding the effects of mobile radiation on health, it is better to decrease the mobile usage. Use the cell phone judiciously.

Effects of Cell Phone on Health

With increase in cell phone usage, there is a gradual rise in health hazards due to its radiation.

Effects of Mobile Phone radiation on health:

1. If you speak for more than one hour in cell phone, the endothelial cells in brain are more affected by 2 watts of radiation leading to stress effects.

2. Effects of mobile are more on the soft parts of body like Eyes and Testicles. Vision is diminished and sperm count is decreased.

3. In children, as brain is in the developing stage, the central nervous system is badly affected with the excessive use of mobile phone. The mobile radiation may affect their memory power.

4. Even though children appear normal, they develop anger, uneasiness and decrease in analytical power.

5. Blood circulation to the brain is also affected. The DNA in the brain cells is also affected.

6. Other effects: Headache, memory loss, mental fatigue and weakness of the body.

7. Mobile users may be affected by neurological diseases in long term.

8. Excessive use of mobile may lead to cancer (10 years). It is under investigation.

Mobile Broadband Services

A question many of us have probably been asked to answer what with telemarketers and ad campaigns boasting this amazing new service. But if you’ve already got wireless Internet is it really worth switching over to mobile broadband? Here are a few things to consider:

What do you use your laptop for? Do you really need to access the Internet when you’re not at home or in the work place? Will you really use the service? Many of us already have wireless access at home and often everywhere you work these days also has Internet access. Consider if you would really benefit by being able to take your laptop anywhere you want. If you’re a business person who travels and requires email access anywhere at any time then mobile broadband might be the perfect solution!

What about price? If you’ve already decided you might be interested in mobile Internet access then compare how much mobile broadband would costs versus what you already pay. In some cases the USB stick may cost upwards of $100. Unless they’re giving it away for free, see how the cost comparison stacks up before you make the switch including the download limit and speed the company is offering.

Another important factor to consider is if you already spent the $400 on an iPhone or PDA that you already pay to access the Internet with? Will the phone provide you enough access for what you need or will you need more?

In these tough times it’s important to be considerate of our costs and needs…so always do a bit of homework! It will always pay off and benefit you in the end!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Council

Anybody who gets a signal on their mobile phone in their home, is in the vicinity of a mobile phone base tower. How close are you to the base station? The answer to this question will likely impact your family’s health, especially if you live within 400 meters of a base station.

A German study published in 2004 titled ‘The Influence of Being Physically Near to a Cell Phone Transmission Mast on the Incidence of Cancer’, showed a 3 times higher risk of developing cancer for people who lived within 400 meters of a cell phone tower for a period of five years.A similar Spanish study found that people living in the close vicinity of a cell phone tower had the following health problems :
Depression increased by up to 64-fold.
Fatigue increased by up to 37-fold.
Appetite Loss increased by up to 25-fold.

Those health effects apply to adults, children can be expected to have even more severe health issues due to the increased absorption of the same radiation levels.

The health impact of RF radiation needs more research. In my opinion, one of the reasons that this is not happing is the enormous economical value that is associated with mobile communication industry and the connectivity it provides. However, both brain cancer and leukemia have been associated with microwave radiation [4][5][6]. Keeping this and the explosive growth of mobile phones in mind, one wonders what the connection is between RF radiation and these cancers. According to the US Natural Resources Defence Council

A Article About Cildrens Using Mobile

The Children's Health Express, a mobile clinic program of Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas and a program of the Children's Health Fund, is rolling into the Austin community to deliver primary and preventive pediatric health care to children without access to critically needed health care.

"The Children's Health Express is a state-of-the-art mobile unit that will break down barriers that contribute to the lack of health care in children who may not have health insurance or a permanent medical provider," said Ava Wood, director of Ambulatory Services, Dell Children's Medical Center. "Our highly skilled medical team will include a board certified pediatrician, a family nurse practitioner, a licensed vocational nurse, and a licensed medical social worker to address the mental health needs."

The Children's Health Fund supports projects throughout the country such as the Children's Health Express which assure that underserved children have a medical home - a proven model of comprehensive health and family centered health care," said Arturo Brito, chief medical officer and executive vice president of Children's Health Fund. "We are thrilled to partner with Dell Children's Medical Center, one of the premiere children's hospitals in the country to bring this exemplary model of care to thousands of families in Austin."

The services provided by the mobile unit include:
• Well Child Exams
• Immunizations
• Acute Illness
• Sports Physicals

It's anticipated that 1,600 patients will visit the mobile unit in the coming year. The two exam rooms in the unit will allow the medical staff to see a large number of patients.

Beginning in the fall, the Children's Health Express, in collaboration with the Children's Health Fund, will visit McBee, T.A. Brown, Houston and Read Elementary one day per week. These schools are in areas where few medical resources are available.

"The Children's Medical Center Foundation and Dell Children's express their deepest appreciation to all of the donors who have supported this meaningful program since it was established in 1995," said Missy Wood, executive director, Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas. "We are especially grateful to the Carl C. Anderson, Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation for their donation in support of the health and well-being of Central Texas children and teens. The Anderson Foundation made a very generous grant to Children's Medical Center Foundation which enabled Dell Children's to purchase this new, beautiful state of the art customized mobile health van."

Children's Health Fund
Because millions of children in America aren't getting the health care they need, the Children's Health Fund (CHF) is committed to providing health care to the nation's most medically under-served children and their families through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to appropriate health care for all children.

Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon, and pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, the CHF's health projects have provided more than 1.6 million patient visits. CHF partners with major academic medical centers to deliver health care to disadvantaged children and families, via state-of-the-art mobile medical units, in both rural and urban areas across the country.

Socially disadvantaged

In poor countries such as Colombia childhood often ends early, and with it the time of carefree play. This has serious consequences, since childhood play provides people with key physical and social skills for later life. This issue galvanized Bayer Colombia into action. In September 2005 the company, in conjunction with the children's charity “Día del Niño” (children's day), started to send a mobile ludoteca (play bus) into Colombian towns and villages. Since then the brightly painted play bus has been doing its daily rounds. It mainly visits children who have been subjected to violence, have run away from home, or are growing up without a formal education.

The aim of the initiative is to use playful means to stimulate children physically and mentally. Topics dealt with include the health of children and animals, human values, cultivation and protection of plants, and even scientific issues.

Bayer Colombia reaches 2,000 children per month with the initiative, which operates under the patronage of the wife of the Colombian president. The experiences will be included in an academically supported study. This is intended to provide information on playing habits across the regions of Colombia – and draw attention to the fact that children have a right to spend time playing with their parents. The first results show to what extent action is required. In some areas parents only play with their children for three hours per week. Children in rural areas hardly play at all because they are needed to help with work in the fields.

“We believe that our business goes hand-in-hand with a responsibility for the communities we work in, and that we should be committed to ensuring a better life for these,” says Dominique Dorison, Senior Bayer Representative in Colombia. “The Bayer ludoteca is a long-term program that will provide us with interesting information about childhood in our communities. This will help us to support people's general development – and in doing so help improve the quality of life.”

Mobie Youth

New data from research consultancy "mobileYouth", whose clients include Vodafone, Nokia, Orange and Disney, cites the number of under 16s in the UK owning a mobile phone will grow to 5.5 million (an increase of nearly half a million from the previous year Whilst the growth in the numbers of youngsters owning mobile phones slowed down in 2004 as the market reached maturity, growth in 2004 was driven by primary school (5-10yr old) children getting their first phone. Amid the current controversy surrounding mobile ownership by the very young, mobileYouth data shows that the driving force behind young children owning mobile phones is not the mobile industry, but the parents. Most have cited security concerns as one of the main reasons why their children should own a mobile phone. The mobile industry still has a long way to go to satisfy the growing need for "mobile parenting". One of the key growth application areas focused on the very young in 2005 will be the emergent mobile tracking sector that allows parents to track the whereabouts of their children at any given time. Mobile Youth recommends that the mobile industry take measures to demonstrate they are catering for the needs of the parents rather than the pester power of children during 2005 by educating guardians as to the potential advantages and disadvantages of these technologies.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Causes - 2

Mobile phones may cause damage to nerves around ears - Former chief medical officer for Telstra (Dr Hocking) claims in evidence to Australia Senate enquiry that he had clear evidence of altered nerve function in the skin of a mobile phone user, around the ear area. Readings of nerves were taken 1cm in front of and 1cm behind the ear - both showed altered responses in a man complaining of strange feelings in his head after using a mobile phone. He had many other cases but had investigated only one. He also gave his analysis of leukaemia in children living within 4km of television towers on Sydney's lower north shore. 10 years after diagnosis with leukaemia, those closest to the TV towers had half the survival rates expected. His previous studies suggested a 50% increase in child leukaemia in areas close to the towers.

Mobile phone radiation in adults and children - health risks

Recent claim of 30% increase in brain tumours found in regular mobile phone users - but result not found in other studies. Brain cancers were most frequently developed on side of head to which the person held their phone. Biggest increase in cancerous growths was in accoustic neuromas which form behind the ear and are usually treated quite easily. Incidence of these types of growths is increasing in the UK. Analysis of 1,600 people with growths who had used mobile phones for up to ten years before diagnosis. Risk increased with frequency and duration of exposure to mobile phone radiation. Scientists compared tumour victims with those who led similar lives but did not use mobile phones, and also with another group who had tumours but did not use mobile phones. Analogue, digital and "cordless" DECT phones all seem to carry risk. Study by Professor Kjell Mild, Orebro University in Sweden

New Information

Australian scientists are investigating if children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of radiation from mobile phones. The Sydney Morning Herald reports. A study of 110 adults at the Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research, partly funded by the Federal Government, confirmed mobile phones cause a change in brain function by altering brainwaves known as alpha waves. The centre, at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology, is now investigating the effect on 40 children aged 12 to 13, and 20 people aged 55 to 75 years.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Precautions

Never keep Mobile phone near your heart (left pocket), ever allow children below 16 years and pregnant women to use Mobile phones, never cook food in a microwave oven, never give infants and children pre heated milk or food from micro wave oven, never use premises for living and working where transmission mast / tower are installed.(effective range is 66meters in radius),switch off Mobile phones when not in use, never keep mobile near to your bed side when sleeping, prefer the usage of land line if available, Use Mobile phones only in Emergency and for very short duration, never use other wireless gadgets for very long durations.

-- It is always advisable that mobile phone should not be treated and used like a land line nor it is an alternate to landline and it should be used as an emergency alternate to land line. Availability and use of mobile in urgency may click a deal and bring fortune to few and in case of accidental emergency, police and ambulance services can be contacted, medical aid may be provided and few lives may be saved. But excessive use of mobile can finish once life particularly when the one use the same while driving, while walking and talking on road and excessive use of mobile without any protective device is more harmful than smoking and chewing of tobacco.

Safety Device

Protective and safety device

The leading mobile phone handset manufacturers of the world, including Nokia, Motorola, Siemens, Ericsson, Samsung etc and operators are blaming each others rather than owning the responsibility to work and produce one or the other safety devices or incorporate the available devices in their handset. A leading German researcher innovated, designed, developed and started marketing a wonder chip known as Green 8 for mobile, computer and buildings. This worldwide tried, tested and proven chip is in the world market since 1996. Millions of consumers worldwide have used, are using and have been benefited. The field reports of Green8 magic chip, which is neither a shield, nor an absorber, nor an protector but it is only a neutralizer as claimed by the innovator. This chip works and functions on the tried principle of harmonizing, transforming and neutralizing the negative polarity of electromagnetic radiation into positive polarity of radiation which leaves no biological effects on human organs, vegetables and planet.

Maybe It will 2020 - Mobile Cancer

The studies and survey conducted by Australian Health Research Institute indicates that due to billions of times more in volume electromagnetic radiation emitted by billions of mobile phones, internet, intranet and wireless communication data transmission will make almost one-third of world population (about two billions) patient of ear, eye and brain cancer beside other major body disorders like heart ailments, impotency, migraine, epilepsy.

According to the reports the tissues of children are tender and are likely to be more effected by use of any wireless gadget and devices and they should not be encouraged to use mobile phone.

The fatal and volumetric effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted mainly by mobile phones, mobile phone antenna, tower, mast, transmission tower, microwave oven, wireless devices, system and equipment.

These dangerous effects have been certified and confirmed repeatedly by many leading medical and scientific research institutions of the world including Ministries of health of various governments, W.H.O. and now have been admitted and confirmed by Govt. of India in their recent press releases.

The attached image shows and proves about the serious ill effects of E.M. radiation released by Radiation Nuclear and Safety Authority of FINLAND as to how E.M. radiation emitted by mobile phones damages the various body cells and causes incurable and fatal diseases.

Linked To Eye Cancer?

A group of researchers in Germany found that people who frequently use mobile phones are three times more likely to develop uveal melanoma- a cancer which grows in the iris and base of the retina of the eye. The scientists examined 118 patients already suffering from uveal melanoma, and investigated their mobile phone use history. They compared the results against a control group of 475 people.

Analysis of the results, which were published in January’s Epidemiology journal, found that those with cancer had a much higher rate of mobile phone use.

However Dr Andreas Stang, who led the team of researchers, does caution that the study needs to be confirmed—a point backed by Epidemiology. “Given the small size of their study, the relatively crude exposure assessment, the absence of attention to UVR exposure or other possible confounding variables, and limited support in the literature, a cautious interpretation of their results is indicated,” read an editorial accompanying the research.

Results from other studies that investigate mobile phones and cancer have been conflicting.

How could mobile phones cause melanoma in the eye? High levels of radiofrequency (RF) radiation can create enough heat to cause biological damage. But mobile phones emit low levels of RF energy. Some scientists theorize that the eye may be vulnerable to RF radiation even at low levels because the eye’s limited blood supply prevents it from releasing heat easily.

Also, the radiation may not necessarily cause cancer, but may make people who are predisposed to cancer more susceptible.

Mobile Cancer Detection Unit - INDIA

The real tragedy about cancer is that it begins with very minor symptoms or none at all. Therefore the best way to guard against cancer is to have a regular yearly cancer check-up examination. Even though the very word "Cancer" sends shiver down the spine of the people, nevertheless they are generally found to be reluctant to go in for a regular periodic cancer check up on their own due to various factors.

In order to create cancer awareness and to encourage more and more people to undergo regular cancer check-ups, the Society is operating a Mobile Cancer Detection Centre to provide cancer check-up facilities to people at a nominal cost without losing any working day, at the worksite, in factories, workshops, offices, housing complexes etc. on request. This Mobile Clinic consisting of an X-ray mounted fully equipped motorised van which carries doctors (2 ENT Surgeons, 2 Gen. Surgeons and a Gynaecologist) and other para. Medical staff to the check up camp sites, can effectively carry out all the tests normally undertaken at a regular detection centre. Those who undergo cancer check-ups at these camps are given individual check-up reports and suspected cases are referred to cancer hospitals for further investigation/treatment.

For more details contact:
INDIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Lady Ratan Tata Medical & Research Centre,
M. Karve Road, Cooperage, Bombay 400021.
Tel: 91-22-2202 9941 / 2202 9942 Fax: 91-22-2287 2745
E-mail: info@indiancancersociety.org