CELL PHONES

CELL PHONE DANGER:
Finger on the Trigger by author William Thomas

If you must pack a cell phone, treat it like a loaded pistol. Keep it turned off. Don't carry it near ovaries, testicles, or the heart. "Microwave frequencies are the same as those used in radar and your microwave oven," says Florida cell phone tower opponent Joe Chwick. "You wouldn't think of sticking your head in the oven, but there is no hesitation to putting the cell phone to your ear."

British military scientists have discovered that cell phone transmissions disrupt the brain sites for memory and learning, causing forgetfulness and sudden confusion.

Other studies show that electromagnetic signals from cellular phones reduce the ability to concentrate, calculate and coordinate complicated activities such as driving a car. Startled by $4 billion a year in extra claims among cell phone-wielding drivers, North American insurers did a double-take when they found simply juggling the phone while driving phones is not solely responsible for causing the 600 per cent increase in accidents. Instead of just another dangerous distraction, tests conducted by the US Department of Energy found that using a cell phone severely impairs memory and reaction times. "Hands-free" mobile speaker-phones cause even more crashes because they typically emit 10 times more brainwave interference than handheld units. University of Toronto investigators report that the heightened probability of crashing your car persists for up to 15 minutes after completing a call.

The government of British Columbia may join England, Spain, Israel, Switzerland and Brazil in restricting or banning the use of cell phones by drivers.

Health Safety Code 6 looks only at microwaves burning skin. "Basically, Health Canada claims if it can't cook you, it can't hurt you," says Walter McGinnis, a certified electrician who has been testing EMFs and collaborating with fellow testers and researchers for nearly a decade. "It's like saying cigarettes aren't dangerous unless they burn you."

Roger Coghill became a longstanding advocate for health warnings to be affixed to mobile phones after this biologist found that cell phone transmissions damage the ability of white blood cells to ward off infectious disease by disrupting the immune system's electromagnetic communications.

Dr Neil Cherry has measured accelerated aging, increased cell death and cancers caused by radio frequency microwaves from cell phones and their relay towers. With the brain's electrochemical communications repeatedly zapped by lightning-like cell phone pulses, the PhD biophysicist warns that headaches, fatigue, lethargy, nausea, dizziness, depression, arteriosclerosis and even Alzheimer's can result from frequent or prolonged calls. "There is also a higher incidence of cardiac problems in terms of the timing function in hearts," says Cherry. "You get more heart attacks and more heart disease–it has now been shown in many studies."

In 1995, mobile phone sales in North America exceeded the birth rate. Hired by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association to condone cellphones, public health scientist George Carlo found that rare tumors on the outside of the brain are more than doubled among cellphone callers–particularly on the right side of the head where phones are usually held. Carlo told ABC's "20/20" that cell phone causes genetic damage that leads to cancer.

For partial protection, buy an antenna shield. Limit calls to one-minute, six to 10 minutes a month. Never use a cell hone with children anywhere in sight.

How can convenience count more than cancer?

William Thomas is an award-winning Canadian journalist specializing in health and the environment. He lives on Gabriola Island, BC. Source: alive #216, October 2000