More Mobile Phone Users Report Symptoms
Norwegian and Swedish users of mobile phones commonly report headaches, warmth on the ear and burning sensations of the facial skin, according to a just-published report.

Researchers sent questionnaires to 17,000 people in Sweden and Norway who use mobile phones as part of their job.

Nearly one of every four experienced at least one symptom associated with mobile phone use

Warmth sensations were mostly experienced during mobile phone calls. Other symptoms, such as headaches, most often began within half an hour after the call and usually lasted for up to 2 hours

Most of the respondents had not seen a physician, but about 45% had taken steps to relieve their symptoms, such as reducing the duration of calls and using "hands free equipment."

Most people experienced a reduction of their symptoms as a result of the reported steps.

Symptoms were more likely to happen with calls lasting longer than 5 minutes

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Many of the people affected by mobile phones have reactions, which include symptoms such as dizziness, disorientation, nausea, headache, and transient confusion. The author suggests that such symptoms might be expected to arise from unilateral stimulation of the portion of the nervous sytem known as the vestibular apparatus, which assists in balance and coordination.
Dr. Cox states that the safety research required on mobile phones is relatively simple and should initiated immediately.

COMMENT: Mobile phones should NOT be used regularly without the major precautions of using a headset and using the digital service which reduces radiation by 90%. It is also unwise to use these while driving. Most states will eventually ban this in the future as it slows one's reaction time to respond to chaning traffic conditions far more than alcohol does.
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Study Links Cell Phones To Brain Cancer Risk

Concerns have been raised about whether cell phone use can be linked to the development of brain tumors. Now, a study from Swedish researchers provides evidence backing the claim.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, based their findings on questionnaire and interview data obtained from 209 persons with brain tumors and 425 healthy control subjects. In a 2-year study, the team found an increased risk in anatomical areas of the brain exposed to microwaves during a mobile phone call. This risk holds even when statistical adjustments are made for other risk factors including ionizing radiation and laboratory exposures.

The researcher pointed out, however, that most of the people in the study used the older analog system, which gives two to three times higher exposure than the digital system, which is now mostly used--at least in Europe. Larger studies are necessary to make firm conclusions. The investigators have a much larger brain tumor study ongoing with about 1,500 incident patients and 1,500 controls and the results are expected within one year.

In light of their current findings, the authors offer several suggestions about cell phone usage. Use an earpiece to reduce exposure to the brain and, in a car, use an external fixed antenna. Otherwise, your exposure to microwaves might even be higher than using the phone outside the car. In addition, extended conversations should be conducted on a regular corded telephone.

Insofar as children are concerned, since the developing brain might be more sensitive to microwaves, children's exposure should be limited. One useful tip is to find out the specific absorption rate (SAR) value of various cell phone types. The SAR may differ by as much as a factor of 20 between different brands.

Original Study Medscape General Medicine, May 4, 2000

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

It is reprehensible to even consider that someone would allow a child to use a cell phone. The danger is far too great. We all need to reduce our exposure. The best way is to minimize their use to the smallest amount possible. Secondly, only use digital rather than analog phones, as the radiation dose is reduced by up to 90%. Thirdly, only use them with a head set. Please review the other articles for further information.
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Cell Phones And Cancer

20/20 arranged for a leading research laboratory in Europe to conduct tests on five popular cell phone models to determine how much microwave radiation can be absorbed into the head of a cell phone user, depending on how the phones are held. While the cell phone industry has assured consumers for years that cellular phones are completely safe, the industryís former research director has now come forward to say this can no longer be presumed.

The industry had come out and said that there were thousands of studies that proved that wireless phones are safe, and the fact was that there were no studies that were directly relevant.Ý The $200-billion-a-year cell phone industry maintains the devices are safe. What many of the countryís 80 million cell phone users may not know is that cell phones send electromagnetic waves into usersí brains. In fact, every cell phone model sold in the United States has a specific measurement of how much microwave energy from the phone can penetrate the brain.Ý

Depending on how close the cell phone antenna is to the head, as much as 60 percent of the microwave radiation is absorbed by and actually penetrates the area around the head, some reaching an inch to an inch-and-a-half into the brain. This is the first generation that has put relatively high-powered transmitters against the head, day after day. The cell phone industry says every phone it sells is safe and meets government radiation safety limits.

But tests conducted by 20/20 have found that some of the countryís most popular cell phones can ó depending on how theyíre held ó exceed the radiation limit. 20/20 reports that government testing guidelines are so vague that a phone can pass the Federal Communications Commissionís requirements when tested in one position and exceed those maximum levels when held in another position.

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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

I have known for some time that these phones are dangerous and have had a cell phone for well over ten years. However, I use my phone about five minutes every year. It is for emergency purposes only. Most individuals have no clue of the harm that they are exposing themselves to by putting that microwave transmitter next to their head.

That does not mean one needs to abandon this technology, as it clearly is very useful. The simple solution would be to purchase a new cell phone that would allow you plug in a hands free adapter. Most all older phones do not have the pin adapters, but many of the newer models have them. This would place the phone away from the most important area of your body, your brain.

Ideally, it would be best to keep the phone as far away from your body as possible; but attaching the phone to your belt or pocket that is far better than putting it next to your brain. This is also true for the portable phone in your home. Throw away your current model and get one of the newer ones that allow you put a headset on and talk without holding the transmitter next to your head. Portable phones have far less radiation than a cell phone, but they still transmit radiation.

One also receives the additional benefit of not having to suffer from neck or upper back pain by having to prop or hold the phone in an unusual position. If you are interested in staying healthy, I strongly recommend you implement these changes in your telecommunication strategy.
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MOBILE PHONES AFFECT BRAIN RESPONSE PATTERNS

The pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones can affect response patterns of human brain activity. German investigators found that electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones could "...alter distinct aspects of the brain electrical response during an acoustic task. The new findings add to the understanding of how mobile phone use can affect brain functions.

Neuroreport October 5, 1998;9:3229-3232.

COMMENT: Folks, cell phones are NOT good for your health. The less you use them the better. I would strongly recommend keeping your use down to less than five minutes per month.
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MOBILE PHONE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS INCREASE RESTING BLOOD PRESSURE

German investigators report that exposure to electromagnetic fields during mobile phone use may increase resting blood pressure. Exposure of the right hemisphere to a radio-frequency electromagnetic field for 35 min causes an increase in sympathetic efferent activity with increases in resting blood pressure between 5 and 10 mm Hg, most likely due to more pronounced vasoconstriction.

Lancet June 20, 1998;351:1857-1858.

COMMENT: The brain is a incredibly sensitive organ. It is highly susceptible to electromagnetic fields. Cellular phones are a disaster waiting to happen. They should be reserved for emergencies only. I am highly confident that the future will more clearly reveal all the damage that these phones cause. Most people purchase "packages" on their cell phone service which gives them a set number of "free" minutes per month and they feel they are wasting it if they don't use it. I would encourage you to change your package and take the pay as you go plan. You can reduce your phone bill to well below $30 per month and save your brain from this damage. I try to limit my cell phone use to two or three minutes per month.
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Researchers Link Suicide to Electromagnetic Fields

American scientists have uncovered a high rate of suicide among electric utility workers and suspect this is linked to electromagnetic fields and their possible effect on the brain chemical melatonin.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina think the electromagnetic fields may decrease levels of melatonin and that this may cause depression and suicide. Melatonin is linked to a variety of functions in the body including sleep, hunger, sexual desire and mood. The researchers compared levels of exposure to magnetic fields and the rate of suicide among more than 5,000 electrical workers and an equal number of other men.

The number of suicides among the electrical workers was twice as high as in the control group.The results of this study provide evidence for an association between cumulative exposure of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and suicide, especially among young workers.

Younger workers who had the highest exposure rates, particularly in the year before they died, had the highest rate of suicide. The team said the finding suggests younger workers may be more vulnerable to the effects of exposure. The researchers hypothesize that an increased vulnerability at younger ages may be based on a change in the nature of depression with age, with suicide more closely linked to depression among younger workers.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine March 15, 2000

COMMENT: The evidence will become more clear as time goes on. I believe there is plenty of research to support avoidance of these fields if at at all possible. However, I am not convinced that the mechanism has to do with melatonin rhythym disruption. One can review the EMF article which goes into more details. One of the simple measures that one should take immediately is to only use a portable or cell phone that has a jack so a head set can be used. One does not want to put this radiation into the brain. Let's be proactive on this one. It will be several more years before the research will be published which will clearly document what a major danger this type of radiation is. If you do have a cell phone and are unwilling or unable to use a headset, at least use the digital phone as it has significantly reduced radiation exposure relative to the analog phones.
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Hands-Free Mobile Phones May Increase Radiation Exposure

Contrary to previous assumptions, hands-free mobile phone kits can significantly boost the brain's exposure to radiation, according to new research conducted by British consumer research magazine Which?

The new findings confirmed claims that the magazine first published in April that using hands-free earpieces could more than triple the brain's exposure to radiation compared to a conventional mobile phone call. That original report was dismissed in August by the British government, which commissioned research that showed the kits did cut exposure levels.

The independent lab conducting the test took thousands of measurements to explore what was causing the changes in EMF emissions. It found that one critical factor was the distance between the top of the phone's aerial and the ear.

But consumer magazine said the methodology used in the government research was flawed. They found that the shape of the test rig used in the government tests made it impossible to get the hands-free kit wire into the position that gave the highest readings. According to the report:

We have found two possible explanations for this. First, the design of the SAR test rig doesn't replicate how someone would normally use a hands-free kit. Most importantly, the wire couldn't hang down straight - as it did when we took the highest readings in our other tests. Second, we found that the SAR test system looks for the point in the head where there is the highest level of radiation - and gives a final reading for only this area. But we found that kits and phones emit the highest levels of radiation in different places: kits emit most at the ear; phones emit most at the user's jaw and cheek.

The new research confirmed that hands-free kits could act as an aerial that channeled radiation to the ear.

The level of emissions depended on the distance between the tip of the phone's aerial and the earpiece, which varied according to how the phone was held. The government tests did not allow for this, Which? said.
According to the magazine's editor:

…it's clear that consumers can't rely on hands-free kits to reduce radiation emissions at the brain from mobile phones. Although these kits can reduce radiation, they can also increase it significantly, depending on where you position the phone and kit. Unfortunately, there is no way that consumers can work out the best position to reduce radiation.
Scientists agree that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones warms brain tissue, some strains of mice have developed cancer in tests in Australia and Finland and that others become disorientated.

Which? said the kits could cut emissions by 10 to 90% in some positions.

In other positions they could increase them by a factor of up to 3.5.
One reason that the government's tests did not show this increased exposure is that they used only one position which did not allow the wire to hang straight down, Which? said.

Not surprisingly, mobile phone maker Ericsson played down the new findings in a public statement.

Which? said it was impossible to recommend a "safe" position for holding a phone. Both short and long distances between the aerial and the earpiece produced increased emissions, with only a short length in the middle generating lower emissions than conventional mobile phone calls. They recommend that "if you're concerned, the most important safety-first advice is to keep the number and duration of calls to a minimum, whether you use a phone with or without a hands-free kit."

To see the original report from Which? CLICK HERE

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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: This is the first report that I am aware of that has expressed some concern regarding the hands free kit that I have been previously highly recommending if you use a cell phone.

I have read this report several times and it seems the key factor here is to keep the aerial on the phone as far away from your body as possible. My guess is that if you follow that guideline you will be OK.

I believe the bottom line here is that we should all minimize our use of these phones as much as possible. My cell phone use is down to under five minutes per year. You might consider a similar policy if at all possible