The article: “How Safe are Cell Phones?” by Larry West talks about how cell phones are really devises of mass destruction. Cell phones give off low levels of radiation when trying to connect to the services that the phone is registered on. However when you put the phone to your ear, you are risking a lot. The radiation the phone gives off can cause tumors in the ear or even the brain.
Cell phones give off only a low amount of radiation when making calls, but when you don't have good service, the cell phone gives off more radiation in order to make the call. After a while, about 10-20 years, there can be a possibility that you could get a developing tumor. We don't notice these effects because like said before; it takes a long time for side effects to develop.
It is not a big problem yet because scientists aren't 100% sure of the effects low levels of radiation have on us. The author says "scientists haven't been able to assess the effects of long-term cell-phone use." It is because cell phones haven't been around long enough for them to do so. This is why scientists don't recommend giving children phones at such a young age. The radiation will really hurt children considering they will be using phones for the rest of their life.
The article states "people should not assume no risk exists." A way you can reduce your risk of getting tumors or other unknown side effects is by not holding you phone directly on your ear when you talk. Instead hold it an inch or two away from your ear when you make a call.
After reading with the article it only makes sense to agree with the author. I didn't realize that cell phones could develop tumors, even if the tumor isn't a serious one. If you get a phone when you are young, the cell phone could really damage your brain. The article isn't stating that you shouldn't have a phone, its stating the risks that you are taking when you make phone calls. I did remember learning from middle school that cell phones aren't good for you in the long run but I never knew why. This article opened my eyes, and I learned that even the slightest levels of radiation can really hurt you in the long run.
The title of this post really grabbed my attention and I believe that from this research on the radiation given off from cell phones that they may cause tumors in the brain. I, like you, had already known that cell phones had some bad effect on people but I would never have thought it would have a chance of causing brain tumors. However, like stated in the article no one can know if they actually do cause brain tumors which I believe they do when people are exposed to this low radiation. I thought the quote you incorporated;” people should not assume no risk exists” because that is a completely true statement and I think people should be cautious of using cell phones all of the time and finding ways to protect them from this possibly harmful radiation. I know that high radiation is very dangerous and can kill you if you are exposed to it for long periods of time. This also provokes some questions such as do wireless house phones give off the same radiation? When will scientists figure out if the radiation is harmful and will they figure it out before people start to die? This was a great summary and there were some very good quotes, fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of covering this issue that not many people know about. You really grabbed my attention with the title because I, like many other high school students are attached to their phone, and to read something like this is a little bit concerning. I agree with you that even though the radiation is not a lot every time you put your phone to your ear, it is still serious and it will catch up to people in the long run. Especially because this generation is coming out with more and more technology, it is important for people to become aware of this. This blog leads me to many questions: Has this affected someone yet? Are there phones that give off more radiation than others? Interesting blog and good quotes and reasoning, awesome job!
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