Mobiles — friend or foe?

Various research papers suggest that even small amount of radio frequency (RF) energy produced by cell phones can cause significant DNA damage.

Revealing the link between the risk of brain cancer and mobile usage, large international study - Interphone - conducted by EU countries, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and UK, that was published in May 2010 in the International Journal of Epidemiology mentioned that excessive use of mobile phones has doubled brain tumour risk.

However, the Interphone researchers have taken an average user as a person who uses cell phone for 2 hours in a month while, in India, many people use cell phones for 1 to 2 hours a day.

Today, large population in India is using cell phones for several hours in a day without realising the severe health hazards, it can create.

A detailed report on Cell Tower Radiation - prepared by IIT Bombay's professor Girish Kumar from electrical engineering department and submitted to department of telecom, Delhi last week - that focuses on the Indian contexts of the cell usage and potential health risks, notes "When electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a cell phone (Frequency -GSM 900 MHz) hits the head, it penetrates the skull. The radiation penetrates the skull of an adult (25%), 10-year-old (50%) and a 5-year-old (75%)."

It implies that children are more vulnerable to EMR as the energy penetrates more deeply into their smaller heads. A number of adverse health effects of radiation exposure have been documented in the report which include altered white blood cells in children; childhood leukemia, headaches, dizziness, insomnia etc.

EMR frequencies can damage DNA and interfere with the natural processes involved in DNA replication and repair. Linking radiation with risk of cancers, the report says, damage to DNA is a central mechanism for developing cancer.

Heavy use of mobile phones can cause cancer. Use of mobile phones for  more than 10 years give a consistent pattern of increased risk for brain cancer -glioma (cancer of the glial cells that support the central nervous system) and acoustic neuroma (a tumour in the brain on a nerve related to hearing).

The risk is highest for developing tumour on the same side of the head where the instrument is held. Increased risk of salivary gland cancer is reportedly linked to the use of mobile phones.

Recent studies confirm that cell phone radiation can drastically affect male fertility.  

"Studies have found 30% sperm decrease in intensive mobile phone users. Similarly, motility of the sperm was also affected by mobile phone transmissions," it says.

The report notes that radiation from cell towers and mobile phones affects skin and may cause electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). People suffering from this condition report a range of symptoms including biting and stinging sensations; or lesions, rashes or sores.

With potential to cause Tinnitus (Ringxiety - the psychological disease of hearing phantom sound), the radiation emitted by mobile phones may damage the delicate workings of the inner ear.

For many marketing professionals, engaging in long talks over mobile phone, the problem starts with a pain in the ear that gradually develops into a ringing sensation which finally leads to hearing loss, notes the report.

Those, who are using cell phones for more than four years and for more than 30 minutes in a day, are at a higher risk of developing hearing loss, which cannot be reversed.

EMR exposure has been shown to affect the brain physiology and is also shown to be in connection with Alzheimer's and

Parkinson's disease. "Use of the handsets before bed, delays and reduces sleep, and causes headaches, confusion and depression. People living near mobile phone base stations are also at greater risk for developing neuropsychiatric problems as headache, memory loss, dizziness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, muscle and joint pain and sleep disturbance," the report notes.