Cell phone safety

Users need to reduce exposure to radiation

It is the first time that cancer experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) have listed mobile phone use as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The listing falls in the same category of harmful substance as lead, chloroform and gasoline exhaust fumes.

A team of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO unit, reached the classification based on a review of studies on cell phone safety. It found some evidence of an increased incidence of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, for mobile phone users.

The action is a warning against potential health hazards arising from exposure to radiation coming out of a cell phone, although it is viewed as “inconclusive” as the team has yet to conduct experiments to prove a direct link between cell phone use and brain cancer.

It would be better for consumers to learn how to use cell phones safety. First, users are required to avoid long-term exposure to radiation. They are advised to use hands-free devices and texting as part of preventive measures. They need to keep mobile phones away from their body.

It is worth noting that many countries around the world were slow in recognizing the health risks of smoking or asbestos and regulating them. Advanced countries began to ban the use of asbestos in the mid-1980s. But Korea introduced a total ban on the carcinogen as late as 2009.

What’s worrisome is that the same may be true of mobile phones. Handset makers could continuously argue that there is no proven link between cell phone use and health risks including brain cancer. It is somewhat fortunate that Korea has adopted an international guideline banning the production of cell phones exceeding a certain amount of radiation.

But, it is still hard to rule out possible health hazards. Consumers should be careful about their cell phone use to ensure their safety. But, they don’t have to panic about mobile phone risks. The devices are in wide use not only in Korea about also around the world so it is almost impossible to go without them.

It is imperative to conduct more research and experiments to clearly define the harmful effects of cell phone use, especially on children who could be more vulnerable than adults. The government, regulators and businesses need to step up cooperation to make safer mobile phones and ensure safer use.