mobiles phones and brain cancer

The argument for which I have based my case study on is an on going argument even in 2008.

This argument which I have chosen is; mobile phones and their links to cancer of the brain and other forms of cancer which are believed to be caused by the on going bombardment of radio waves from mobile phones and their masts. This subject interests me due to its technological side of things and its ‘flawless’ health and safety regulations. The mobile phone its self is an every day necessity for the business and social world of today; many people have become dependable on such a small inquisitive device almost to say it was their only gateway to the outside world.

Does using a mobile phone

cause brain damage?

Well mobiles cause micro waves...what are the effects of these?

Well numerous tests have been done to try and find the effects of microwaves produced by mobile phones, but how can we say these are reliable?

Here are both in vivo and in vitro results.

In vitro non thermal effects of microwaves

∙ Elicits epileptic activity in rat brain slices in conjunction with certain drugs.

∙ Affects cell division of yeast and on the genome conformation of E. coli.

∙ Synchronises cell division in yeast, S. carisbergenis.

∙ Increases permeability of red blood cell membrane.

∙ Affects calcium efflux in brain cells.

∙ Increases chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in human blood

In vivo non-thermal effects of microwaves

∙ Causes epileptic activity in rats, in conjunction with certain drugs.

∙ Depresses chicken immune systems (melatonin, corticosterone and IgG levels).

∙ Increases mortality of chick embryos.

∙ Affects brain electrochemistry (dopamine, opiates).

∙ Increases DNA single- and double-strand breaks in rat brain.

∙ Promotes lymphomas in mice.

∙ Synergistic effects with certain psychoactive drugs.

(8)

However a mobile phone does not cause the vast amount of radio waves used in the report above therefore the effects are minor compared to these, thus making this report only scare people and not guide them to a thorough conclusion.

The Stewart Report

In March of 1999 the Minister of Public Health Tessa Jowell requested that Sir Walter Bodmer (chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board) set up an independent study along with scientists and experts:

To consider present concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters, to conduct a rigorous assessment of existing research and to give advice based on the present state of knowledge. To make recommendations on further work that should be carried out to improve the basis for sound advice.

Taken from (First issued 12 October 1999) (1)

Researched on 24/02/2008

The study was going to address many problems and fears within the public. It will look at the health effects of mobile phones as well as base stations, which provide the main source of power. This type of study was necessary because of the many suspicions caused by the use of mobile phones, including brain damage.

Evidence

The level of evidence within the study is very complex and detailed however an overall insight can be concluded. The evidence can be placed into subsections such as Experimental Studies and Laboratory Studies of the effect RF radiation on people. The amount of research that each individual has carried out is enough to call the report reliable.

Age of users

The issue of age arises during the study. All mobile phones users need to be aware of whether they are going to be harmed, however most people worry about teenagers and children using mobile phones. The ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Age of users

‘As a general rule the Expert Group considers that children less than 16 years of age should be discouraged from using mobile phones.’

Taken on 24/02/2008 from (first issued 16th June 2000) (2)

This rule was put in place because of the worrying damage mobile phone radiation can to do a developing nervous system. The evidence gathered during the Stewart Report suggests that children are more likely to suffer damage than adults. The experts came to this conclusion because other scientific evidence suggested that the nervous system is fully developed at the age of sixteen. Therefore, it is believed that radiation emitted after this time may not have a worrying effect on the brain. However if a child or teenager was to frequently use a mobile phone when making phone calls their thin skulls are thought to absorb some of the radiation emitted. Another worry is that teenagers are the most frequent users of mobile phones. It is believed that their continuous long period phone calls will increase their risk of brain damage.

Further research is now being carried out to investigate this matter further, as it brain damage is suspected to cause memory loss and other biological diseases. The Stewart Report will also be included in this study as its results are important and valued.

Base Stations

Another problem addressed during the Stewart Report was the location of base stations. The Expert Group were asked about base stations near to schools, in particular. Many people worry when they see or hear about a mobile phone base station being built in their area, as they are unaware of the health effects it may cause. The Expert Group involved, researched this worry and concluded the following:

Exposure to members of the public from macrocell base stations is very much less than current guidelines.

Taken on 24/02/2008 from (first issued on 16 June 2000) (3)

This piece of information appears to be quite vague. It is helpful in the way that it informs the whole of the public that radiation levels are nothing to be worried about. However it fails to answer the original worry about radiation around schools.

The research then looked into what the beam of intensity was defined as. The Expert Group found out that the greatest exposure to radiation was not within schools sites. But a recommended distance between a base station and school could not be published.

The problem with this information is that no explanation is given to the whereabouts of the greatest beam of intensity. It is excellent that the Expert Group have worked out that radiation intensity is not above guidelines in schools. However children are only at school on average six hours a day, therefore they may be exposed to radiation at home or whilst they are out shopping or at the cinema with their friends. To make the study more reliable and efficient the Expert Group should investigate common areas around the country where children usually spend their free time. They should look at the number of base stations and the intensity of radiation. To extend the reliability of the study even further scientists and experts could investigate all areas surrounding a base station to make sure their intensity levels aren’t harming people of any ages.

Results

The main conclusion of the report is:

The Expert Group believes that, on the basis of the evidence currently available, there is no need for the general population to be worried about the use of mobile phones.

Taken on 24/02/2008 (4)

Therefore the report suggests that users need not to worry about mobile phones, based on the evidence and analysed during the study. The main conclusion informs me that mobile phones do not cause brain damage.

However the statement ‘of the evidence currently available’ suggests that in the near future more evidence can be found which may change the conclusion of the report. Including this information in the conclusion may cause worry within society. At first they may be re-assured that it is safe to use mobile phones, but the fact that vital evidence may still be left unfound can cause worries. People may worry that mobile phones are not safe to use but the evidence to prove this is still unknown.

Precautionary Approach

The report goes onto say that a precautionary approach should be taken when using mobile phones, as a small amount of evidence may do some biological harm. Sir William Stewart who headed the report issued a statement, which can be found on (broadcast Thursday, 11 May, 2000, 20:25 GMT 21:25 UK). Researched on 24/02/2008 (5)

The use of mobile phones is not totally "without potential adverse health effects", it says.

Sir William said: "The balance of evidence suggests that mobile phone technologies do not cause adverse health effects on the general population of the UK

.”But there's some preliminary evidence, and I emphasise very much preliminary evidence, that emissions from mobile phones may cause in some cases subtle biological changes."

The majority of evidence suggested that the public didn’t need to worry about using mobile phones. However the leader of the report, Sir William Stewart reported that there was a small percentage of evidence, which could mean that the radiation from mobile phones may cause biological problems. This type of damage could be classed as brain damage; therefore the Expert Group felt precautions must be issued to the members of the public.

As there was a small uncertainty in the some of the evidence the following information acts as guidelines for the precautionary approach:

Use phones for as short a time as possibly
Use phones with low specific absorption rate (SAR) values.
Use hands-free and other devices provided that have been proved to reduce the SAR.

Information taken from (first issued 16th June 2000). Found on 04/07/2007 (6)

Although the precautionary rules are set out to benefit the public’s health, many people may worry more because of it. The fact that scientists and experts have even a tiny amount of uncertainty can frighten members of the public. They may fear that the small piece of evidence, which suggests biological damage, could develop into a serious amount of evidence and damage, even if precautions are taken.

Conclusion

Overall The Stewart Report has a convincing impact on the reader. It appears to be both reliable and believable because of the amount of research it contains. The level of evidence within the study is highly complex in comparison to the Danish Study and Rat Experiment. More than one aspect of mobile phone usage was investigated whereas a limited amount of evidence was gathered in the other reports.

The Stewart Report is similar to the Danish Study and the Rat Experiment in the way that it focuses on the age range which are expected to suffer the most from exposure to mobile phone radiation. The report looks into the possible effect exposure to microwave radiation can cause to developing nervous systems of teenage humans. To protect their health it then issues a precautionary approach to reduce the possible amount of harm.

The Stewart Report concludes that the public do not need to worry about using mobile phones. As the amount of evidence and researched carried out was large, the conclusion can be trusted and seen as very reliable. To ensure further dependency the scientists and researchers issued a precautionary approach as a small amount of ‘preliminary evidence’ was found which suggested possible harm from mobile phone emissions. To overcome this problem the public were advised to limit the use of mobile phones to lower any possible risk. Taking this much care over the publics health may make the report seem more reader friendly and henceforth reliable.

Resource : cancerhealth.org ( for ) (7)

taken from on 24/02/2008

"If Mobile Phones Were a Type of Food, They Simply Would Not be

Licensed"

cellular phone increases the risk of brain cancer (brain tumour).

Cellular phones can do biological damage through heating effects.

Cellular phone causes symptoms: including headaches, earaches, blurring of vision, short-term memory loss, numbing, tingling, and burning sensations, bad sleep, fatigue, Anxiety.

Single and double strand DNA breaks in brain cells increased after exposure to RF. Exposure to both continuous wave and pulsed RF (mobile phone) produced DNA damage. Double strand breaks, if not repaired, are known to lead to cell death. Research by other scientists indicates that prolonged use of mobile phones may cause hot-spots to develop inside the brain, causing damage which could lead to Alzheimer’s disease or cancer (brain tumour) Dr Henry Lai and Dr N. P. Singh from the University of Washington in Seattle believe the radiation changed brain cell membranes in the rats - and the effects are so severe that it could affect humans, too.

Dismissal of the possibility of subtle effects of low-intensity, pulsed, microwave radiation is most unwise. Early in the 20th century radon and radium-enriched spa waters were "recommended" for a wide range of aches and minor ailments. As knowledge of the harmful effects of ionizing radiation has increased and quantitative risk estimates have become possible (notwithstanding rather large error bands), the permitted annual dose limit has been progressively reduced from the 1930s to the present day.

I believe that this is a partially reliable source however this report show slight bias views by not looking at both sides of the argument. This resource puts their belief within few scientists who all point the finger at mobiles and their links to cancer. This report simply puts the public in doubt about all mobile phones, and causes any readers think twice before they pick up their handset. Within this report they link mobile phones to a break down of dna leading to cell death and brain cancer. However this test was done on rats, which is a totaly different object compared to the human body. However they have shown that hotspots within the brain can occur due to prolonged exposure to the radio frequency pulsating from a mobile phone and therefore they believe there hypothesis to be correct, ‘mobile phones do cause cancer

In conclusion,
after reading these different reports I have seen a lot of evidence both for and against mobile phone use; and after analysing and concluding each account i have come to my own personal conclusion. I firmly believe the use of mobile phones on a regular basis does not cause any form of cancer, however others may think it does due to a slight heating change within the brain.
I also add that I believe prolonged exposure to heavier more dangerous waves of energy might cause such injuries like headaches and migraines but nothing more I believe this because after reading my most reliable resource, the Stewart report I am convinced that there is no link what so ever to the break down of cells and henceforth no links to cancer.
I can understand how others may believe differently due to the vast amount of unreliable resources out that say differently to my conclusion but I firmly believe that if they too read the Stewart report even they would be have peace of mind.

Bibliography

http://www.iegmp.org.uk/terms/index.htm (First issued 12 October 1999)

Researched on 24/02/2008

Taken on 24/02/2008 from http://www.iegmp.org.uk/report/clarification.htm

(first issued 16th June 2000)

Taken on 24/02/2008 from http://www.iegmp.org.uk/report/clarification.htm (first issued on 16 June 2000)
Take on 24/02/2008 http://www.iegmp.org.uk/report/clarification.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/744309.stm (broadcast Thursday, 11 May, 2000, 20:25 GMT 21:25 UK). Researched on 24/02/2008
http://www.iegmp.org.uk/report/clarification.htm (first issued 16th June 2000). Researched on 24/02/2008
Taken on 24/02/2008 from www.cancerhealth.org
Taken on 24/02/2008 from www.i-sis.org.uk/FOI2.php