Mobile Phones

Mobile phones and cordless phones emit radiofrequency radiation which is absorbed by the part of the body closest to it while it is transmitting, whether or not a call is being made.  

The cradles for many cordless phones emit radiofrequency radiation continuously - even when no call is being made. The only way you can tell whether or not your cordless phone is radiating in this way is to measure it.

Health
This radiation has been shown to produce potentially-harmful changes in the body such as oxidative stress, genetic damage, hormonal changes, changes to neurotransmitters, changes to memory, learning and behaviour.

In addition, people report symptoms from mobile phone use such as heat, headache, dizziness, confusion, memory and concentration problems. If you experience symptoms from mobile phone use, we invite you to let us know by completing our symptoms form.

It is uncertain how serious these effects are for people’s health, especially for long-term users.  However, some studies have found an increased rate of brain tumours among people who have used mobile or cordless phones for ten or more years.

Mobile phones are used by approximately five billion people worldwide, many of them children. Children are thought to be more vulnerable because their heads absorb more radiation and they have a potential lifetime of exposure. If there is a negative impact from this technology, it is likely to be huge.

Many governments have advocated taking precautions to reduce exposure to mobile phone radiation, especially for children who are often thought to be more vulnerable.

Reducing exposure
Certainly don't hold a mobile phone against your body while you are making a call or carrying a phone that's turned on.

 

You can find out dozens of useful suggestions about how to reduce your exposure to the radiation from mobile and cordless phones in 'The Force' and all the latest news and research about mobile phones in “EMR and Health”.

Buying a new mobile phone?
Why not hire our radiofrequency meter to measure the radiation from the phones in the store? It's available in our RF Safety Kit.

Buying a cordless phone?
Why not hire our radiofrequency meter to detect whether the phone is emitting radiation continuously?

You'll see useful information about mobile phones in several articles we've had published.

See also the article: Would you stick your head in a microwave oven?