Read the Memo Director of a Pittsburgh University Cancer Center Issues Warning about Cellphone Use Especially by Children
Why did the Director of a Pittsburgh University Cancer Center Issue a Memo Warning about Cellphone Use?
Here is the
text of the memo from the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Centers issued as an advisory to about 3,000 faculty and staff about the
possible health risks associated with cellular phone use. The
Cancer Institute director advised special caution for children using cellphones. The memo said a child's developing organs "are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure".
Why was He More Worried about Cellphone Use in Children?
"Recently
I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer," Dr. Ronald Herberman said in the memorandum. "Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use."
"
Ronald B. Herberman, MD, the first director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is an internationally recognized tumor immunologist who has made major discoveries in his field and has fostered the application of this information to novel approaches to cancer therapy".
The advisory suggests certain measures to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices, such as shortening the length of conversations or keeping the phones away from the head by text messaging or using headsets or speaker phone options. It also recommends that children not use cell phones except in emergencies.
The Memo's Text
MEMORANDUM
TO: UPCI Faculty and Staff
FROM: Ronald B. Herberman, MD
SUBJECT: Important Precautionary Advice Regarding Cell Phone UseRecently
I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term
cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer. Although the
evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to
warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone
use.
An
international expert panel of pathologists, oncologists and public health
specialists, recently declared that electromagnetic fields emitted by cell phones
should be considered a potential human health risk. To date, a number of
countries including France, Germany and India have issued recommendations
that exposure to electromagnetic fields should be limited. In addition, Toronto’s
Department of Public Health is advising teenagers and young children to limit
their use of cell phones, to avoid potential health risks.
More definitive data that cover the health effects from prolonged cell phone use
have been compiled by the World Health Organization, International Agency for
Research on Cancer. However, publication has been delayed for two years.
In
anticipation of release of the WHO report, the following prudent and simple
precautions, intended to promote precautionary efforts to reduce exposures to
cell phone electromagnetic radiation, have been reviewed by UPCI experts in
neuro-oncology, epidemiology, neurosurgery and the Center for Environmental
Oncology
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Practical Advice to Limit Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation
Emitted from Cell Phones
1.
Do not allow children to use a cell phone, except for emergencies. The
developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any
possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
1 The Case for Precaution in the Use of Cell Phones Advice from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Based on Advice from an International Expert Panel, available at www.preventingcancernow.org
2. While communicating using your cell phone,
try to keep the cell phone away from
the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one
fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet.
Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth
headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal
cell phone. Use of a hands-free ear piece attachment may also reduce
exposures.
3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively
expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields.
4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your
body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if
pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops
electromagnetic emissions.
5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, make sure that the keypad is positioned
toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside so that the
transmitted electromagnetic fields move away from your rather than through you.
Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high
speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a
maximum
6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few
minutes, as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure.
For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless
phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell
phones.
7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out
your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your
correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field
emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.
8.
Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high
speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a
maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.
9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call,
limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.
10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate,
which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body).
SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by
searching for “sar ratings cell phones” on the internet.
Ronald B. Herberman, MD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Cancer chief sees cell phone risks
