‘Wireless radiation could cause cancer’
June 9 2014 at 09:31am
By Sipokazi Fokazi
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Cellphones, tablets and laptops that use wi-fi should not be placed near a pregnant woman's abdomen.
.
Cellphones, tablets and laptops that use
wi-fi should not be placed near a pregnant woman's abdomen.
Cape Town - An American scientist has
warned that children and pregnant women should avoid using cellphones, cordless
phones, tablets and smartphones that use wi-fi as such devices expose them to
wireless radiation that could cause cancer.
Dr Devra Davis, an environmental health
researcher and head of the US-based Environmental Health Trust said not only do
pregnant women expose their unborn babies to a possible human carcinogen, there
was evidence that cellphone radiation negatively affected the development of a
foetus.
Speaking at the Cancer Association of
South Africa (Cansa) about harmful environmental factors during pregnancy,
Davis said various prenatal animal studies had proven that cellphone radiation
altered the DNA and brain metabolism, exposed newborns to compromised spinal
cords and affected learning abilities. In males it reduced sperm count.
She said that while epidemiological
studies had found no concrete evidence on the effects of wireless radiation on
humans, people should not insist on proof of human harm before taking action.
“We should not rely on proof in a form of
death or a disease before taking action… we should rather look at evidence that
shows the risks. We now have strong evidence that shows wireless radiation is a
possible carcinogen, if not a definite carcinogen,” she said.
Davis compared cellphone radiation to that
of a microwave oven, arguing that the only difference between the two was power
levels. This form of radiation was also in the same category of carcinogens as
pesticides, lead and engine exhausts.
While many pregnant women understood the
effects of other environmental factors on an unborn baby, including smoking,
alcohol and contaminated foods, Davis warned that the potential damage of
wireless radiation was underestimated by many, with some putting their
cellphones in bras and pockets – exposing their developing babies to risk.
“A number of well-designed studies
indicate that cellphone use increases cancer risk. Cellphones change the brain.
Antennas for cellphones are continually searching for signals to send and
receive information. The body or brain absorbs about half the radiation emitted
from the phone at any time,” she said.
Davis said children also absorbed more
radiation than adults as their developing brains contained more liquid.
Teenagers who started using cellphones
from a young age were four to five times more likely to develop brain cancer in
less than a decade, than those who didn’t use cellphones.
Davis warned that those who lived near
cellphone towers also faced an increased risk of cancer.
She said having wi-fi at schools could put
children’s health at risk from a very young age.
People could reduce health risks by using
headphones rather than putting their phones against their ears as this
significantly reduced the intensity of wireless radiation.
- Unplug your cellphone wi-fi router or modem.
- Avoid placing your cellphone or laptop or tablet on your abdomen.
- Talk on a speaker setting, especially when answering a call, to avoid the high intensity radio frequency when a cellphone receives a call.
Dr Carl Albrecht, head of research at
Cansa, said the organization took a cautionary stance. - Cape Argus
sipokazi.fokazi@inl.co.za
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