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Cell phone news

    • 26 DEC 13

    Cell-phones’ link to health problems debated

    Stephanie M. Lee
    Updated 8:16 am, Wednesday, December 25, 2013

    Every weekday morning, Bret Bocook sits in a cozy Starbucks in downtown Los Altos. He sips coffee and reads the paper. But mostly, he watches people as they chat on their cell phones.

    Then he walks over to deliver a message.

    “I was observing you on your cell phone,” Bocook told a woman after she wrapped up a lengthy call on a recent morning. “I used a cell phone and I got a brain tumor.” Startled, the woman politely listened. Bocook tends to command attention, and not just because he has the tall, broad build of a former competitive rower. The 49-year-old Los Altos man limps with a cane, the result of a surgery that removed a malignant brain tumor about four years ago but left him with shaky motor skills. His right temple is indented where the tumor had once been. It’s also, he says, where he held his cell phone when he was a real estate agent, racking up an estimated 1 million minutes over two decades as he talked to clients. Bocook is now among a growing number of people who believe beyond doubt that cell phones are a life-threatening health hazard. Some medical experts have also begun to raise concerns about the devices. Scientifically, there is no consensus on whether, or to what extent, cell-phone radiation causes harm to humans. Some recent studies have tied phone use to cancer, decreased sperm count, impaired brain development and other maladies, but other research has found no such evidence. Bocook needs no further study to convince him of the dangers of cell-phone use. In 2009, he was diagnosed with a cancer known as anaplastic astrocytoma. “As soon as I found out I had a brain tumor in this location,” he said, “it was just obvious.” This month, Bocook appeared with a panel of scientists and physicians at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, arguing that phone users should gab with caution. Their point seems to be gaining traction.

    SNIP

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    • 23 DEC 13

    More on the Danish Brain Tumor Rates

    From Louis Slesin, Microwave News:

    A few days ago, the Danish government released its latest
    report on the incidence of various types of tumors.

    For the ten years from 2003 through 2012, tumors of
    the central nervous system increased by 41.2% among men
    and 46.1% among women. In last year’s report, the
    increases were 30% and 25%, respectively.

    SNIP

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    • 15 DEC 13

    Something Is Rotten in Denmark

    From Microwave News,

    Just over a year ago, the Danish Cancer Society issued a
    news advisory with some alarming news: The number of
    men diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most malignant type
    of brain cancer, had doubled over the last ten years.
    The release stated that this was a “frightening development.”

    After that, there was silence. No one talked about it.
    Today, we still cannot get any clarification from the
    Danish Cancer Society.
    SNIP

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    • 07 NOV 13

    New French documentary: Mobile phones and harmfulness or “the manufacture of falsehood”

    Internet translation by Babylon with a tidyup

    From Iris Atzmon:

    With their documentary Mobile phones and harmfulness or “the manufacture of falsehood”, the journalist Nancy of Meritens and the filmmaker Jean Hêches show how the mobile phone industry creates doubt on the harmfulness of their product.

    Dangerous or not, the waves of mobile phones, antennas relay, wireless phones, Wi-Fi , 3G and 4G?

    When Breitenbach valley (Munster) residents refused an antenna near their homes, the mayor assured his countrymen that there was no problem in view of the formal research. The village doctor has documented however that “the waves can alter the functioning of cells, induce cancers,” which he explained to the villagers.

    Among them, Jean Hèches a documentary filmmaker, wondered “why so much controversy”? To find out why, he set to work with journalist Nancy Meritens. For two years they recorded scientific conferences , interviewed many experts in France , Germany, Switzerland , Sweden, decrypted and verified masses of information . A long investigative work that allows them to explain ” the defense strategy of products” already used by the tobacco industry , asbestos … They show how public health agencies and the WHO ( World Health Organization health ) are infiltrated by “scientific mercenaries” paid by the industry to demonstrate that there is no risk , “to fabricate lies ” to denigrate studies that interfere to produce ” studies designed to do find anything ” …
    In Sweden they have testimony from a couple of electrosensitives, a former engineer of the mobile industry and his wife suffering to the point of not being able to live in the city . “Sweden has fifteen years ahead of France in the implementation of these new technologies. Electrosmog is permanent , they said. This will probably be the next big public health scandal because everyone is exposed. It is important that each user takes precautions to be taught to young people to use these techniques with sense. ”

    See “waves , science and intrigue”, at national premiere at the opening of the film festival, Wednesday, November 6 to 19 h 30 , living cultural complex CAP – up Blue Devils in Saint -Amarin , debate with Nancy Meritens journalist .

    Full program SURFER Film Festival engaged on the website: http://dureveaureveil.blogspot.fr
    http://www.lalsace.fr/actualite/2013/11/05/telephone-mobile-et-nocivite-ou-la-fabrication-du-mensonge

    film festival
    http://dureveaureveil.blogspot.fr/

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    • 05 NOV 13

    Smart Phones and Kids

    From Dariusz Lesczcynski

    Parents, be smart: Do not give your child a smart phone

    HELSINKI, Finland, November 3, 2013 – Very young children, when they go to school, get cell phones. Nowadays it is often a smart phone.

    The main reason for parents to give cell phones to their children is safety. A cell phone is a safety device for a child.

    However, what kind of cell phone is suitable for small children and preadolescents, kids roughly five to 14 years of age?

    Children at school compare cell phones and are smart enough to figure out who has the better functioning, more expensive gadget. These comparisons lead to asking parents for better phones because of peer pressure. Unfortunately, parents often surrender to kids’ demands and provide them with better and more expensive smart phones that can do much more than just calling or texting. Parents want the best for their children at whatever the monetary cost.

    Small children and preadolescents are developing both physically and mentally. They need physical exercise in open air and they need mental stimulation appropriate to their age. Smart phones hamper both of these needs.

    SNIP

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    • 31 OCT 13

    Did the Newly Appointed FCC Chair Subvert Research Showing Harm From Cell Phone Radiation?

    From Joel M. Moskowitz

    The Senate just confirmed Tom Wheeler’s nomination to be the next chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Hence, my press release from May 28th of this year about Mr. Wheeler has greater import now.

    The press release cites allegations of misbehavior made by a major wireless industry publication about Mr. Wheeler when he was president of the industry association, the CTIA, from 1992 to 2004. More specifically, it alleged that he suppressed and biased the research from the nation’s largest mobile phone health research project.

    The appointment of Mr. Wheeler at this time is particularly troubling because the FCC is under pressure from the industry to change the cell phone radiation limits in the U.S. to the international limits which provide less protection to cell phone users. However, the toxicologic and epidemiologic research now strongly suggests that the current radiation limits are inadequate and must be strengthened, not weakened.

    SNIP

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    • 29 OCT 13

    Docs Urge Limits on Kids’ Texts, Tweets

    From Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.

    Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press, Oct 28, 2013

    Doctors 2 parents: Limit kids’ tweeting, texting & keep smartphones, laptops out of bedrooms. [goodluckwiththat].

    The recommendations are bound to prompt eye-rolling and LOLs from many teens but an influential pediatricians group says parents need to know that unrestricted media use can have serious consequences.

    It’s been linked with violence, cyberbullying, school woes, obesity, lack of sleep and a host of other problems. It’s not a major cause of these troubles, but “many parents are clueless” about the profound impact media exposure can have on their children, said Dr. Victor Strasburger, lead author of the new American Academy of Pediatrics policy

    “This is the 21st century and they need to get with it,” said Strasburger, a University of New Mexico adolescent medicine specialist.

    The policy is aimed at all kids, including those who use smartphones, computers and other Internet-connected devices. It expands the academy’s longstanding recommendations on banning televisions from children’s and teens’ bedrooms and limiting entertainment screen time to no more than two hours daily.

    Under the new policy, those two hours include using the Internet for entertainment, including Facebook, Twitter, TV and movies; online homework is an exception.

    The policy statement cites a 2010 report that found U.S. children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of more than seven hours daily using some kind of entertainment media. Many kids now watch TV online and many send text messages from their bedrooms after “lights out,” including sexually explicit images by cellphone or Internet, yet few parents set rules about media use, the policy says.

    “I guarantee you that if you have a 14-year-old boy and he has an Internet connection in his bedroom, he is looking at pornography,” Strasburger said.

    SNIP

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    • 28 OCT 13

    West Australian school bans phones at breaks

    Prestigious girls’ school Penrhos College has banned students from using mobile phones during their lunch and recess breaks because of concerns students are losing the art of conversation.

    Principal Meg Melville said, even though girls were sitting in groups during breaks, teachers had become aware students were texting their friends instead of talking to each other.

    “We decided we wanted to really encourage them during their break times at school to have conversations with one another, face-to-face,” she said.

    Mrs Melville said technology was embedded in the curriculum and mobile phones had become an important part of that.

    But it was just as important for students to develop conversation skills such as understanding the nuances conveyed by people’s reactions and body language.

    “You can gauge how a conversation is going by looking at the way people are responding – you can’t do that in texting,” she said.

    “It’s just about being present in the moment. They don’t have to be taking photos of themselves or pictures of what they’ve had for lunch at the canteen.”

    Mrs Melville said many adults also did not realise it was “incredibly rude” to look at their phone when with other people.

    She said students could still immerse themselves in social media outside school hours.

    SNIP

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    • 25 OCT 13

    Belgium Adopts New Regulations To Promote Cell Phone Radiation Safety

    The Belgian government has announced measures to restrict the use of mobile phones by young children.

    Minister Laurette Onkelinx has announced that sales of mobile phones to children under 7 years will be banned in shops and also on the internet.

    Adverts for mobile phones during children’s programmes on TV radio and the internet will also be banned.

    Research shows than in Belgium every two out of three children under 10 years have a mobile phone. At 12 years they nearly all have one.

    The minister has highlighted the radiation risk from cell phones which is higher for young children than adults.

    Read the article, with comments here

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    • 23 OCT 13

    A Thesis: Wireless phone use by young New Zealanders: Health and policy implications

    The Doctoral thesis of Dr. Mary Redmayne, Wireless phone use by young New Zealanders: Health and policy implications is now available online at:
    http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/2961

    A version of Chapter 9 has been published with a different type of analysis used that is easier to understand (ordinal logistic regression rather than conditional logistic regression which is in the thesis). It’s available here:

    Environmental Health.2013, 12:90. DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-12-90
    http://www.ehjournal.net/content/12/1/90

    Abstract:

    Over the last decade the use of cellphones has increased dramatically among the young adolescent population. In New Zealand, most children of this age also use a cordless phone. With the rapid proliferation in children‘s use of these devices, there has been increasing concern about whether children are more vulnerable than adults to possible adverse outcomes if such effects do result from wireless phone radiofrequency exposure. This is the first study of young New Zealanders‘ wireless phone habits, focusing particularly on the extent of use, and the relationship of that use with well-being. Two studies were undertaken: a census of schools with Year 7 and 8 classes in the Wellington Region of New Zealand to ascertain what rules were in place regarding cellphones at school, and a cross-sectional survey of students from the same region, using a representative sample of 373 students aged 10.3-13.7years. Both studies were conducted by the author independently from any research group. The primary research appears in Part II. Chapter 5 presents wireless phone user-habits. The large majority of young adolescents were already using cellphones and cordless phones regularly in 2009, although use was generally light or moderate. A small group (5%) was using both phone types extensively (≥ 30 minutes cordless daily plus ≥ 10 cellphone calls weekly); almost a quarter used a cordless phone ≥ 30 minutes daily, and 6% reported, on average, 1¼ hours or more use daily.
    SNIP

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    • 22 OCT 13

    Cordless phones are more of a health risk to young people than mobiles, according to new university research.

    Cordless phones are more of a health risk to young people than mobiles,
    according to new university research.

    In a study of almost 400 Wellington intermediate pupils, adjunct Victoria
    University researcher Mary Redmayne found pre-teens were more likely to
    suffer headaches if they made long or frequent calls on cordless phones or
    cellphones.

    The research, to be published in theEnvironmental Health journal this week,
    also found high users of cordless phones more commonly experienced
    tinnitus, or ringing in their ears.

    SNIP

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    • 21 OCT 13

    Recommended viewing ‘Casualty catastrophe’: Cell phones and child brains

    For those of you who have not yet seen the Truthseeker video ‘Casualty catastrophe’: Cell phones and child brains, mentioned previously, please do, keeping in mind that the head of Australia’s new mobile phone research effort has a different viewpoint on the extent of risk when he stated in September of this year that:

    “There’s a pretty strong consensus that there’s not a problem in adults, but people have only started doing research on children in the last five years and very little has come out of it,” he said. “We’ve got no reason to believe that there’ll be a greater effect in children than in adults. “But we just don’t understand well enough the maturational phases that children go through, so it’s possible there’s greater sensitivity.”

    These are strong words of assurance that its not too big a problem to worry about, perfectly okay to use a mobile phone if you are an adult and no reason to worry about the kids either.

    Worlds apart…….

    SNIP

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    • 20 OCT 13

    Dariusz Leszczynski’s interview on the The Truthseeker’ show

    From Dariusz Leszczynski

    ‘The Truthseeker’ show on cell phones and health, entitled ‘‘Casualty catastrophe’: cell phones and child brains’ is worth watching. It asks many questions and shows that we have not many answers…

    Excerpt:

    Dariusz Leszczynski – The general finding from my research group was that living cells respond to mobile phone radiation by activation of stress response. It is way of cells protecting themselves from the damage. This observation means that living cells recognize mobile phone radiation as potentially damaging agent and trigger protective counter response. Activation of stress response was then a “hot potato” issue and few studies were done. Some did not find this effect. But there is some half-a-dozen studies showing this effect. To me it is clear that mobile phone radiation induces biological responses in cells. Whether it causes, down stream, pathological changes to normal physiology it remains to be seen. This topic was not pursued very much due to lack of funding. Yes, the FCC should revise the exposure safety standards and there is a particular reason for it…

    SNIP

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    • 18 OCT 13

    Is the cell phone industry making itself a sitting duck?

    From the blog of Dariusz Leszczynski, Between a Rock and A Hard Place:

    HELSINKI, Finland, October 17, 2013 – The French cell phone safety watchdog – The National Agency for Health, Food and Environmental Safety (ANSES) – published its new report on cell phones and health on October 15th, 2013.

    The report concludes that the panel of scientists, led by Elisabeth Cardis, was unable to find causality between the observed biological effects induced by exposures to cell phone radiation and possible health effects in humans (as stated on the page 45 of the report: “For personal reasons, Dr Cardis was not able to participate in the deliberations of the working group in 2013, in the evaluation of the data and the preparation of the report and is therefore not in a position to endorse its conclusions”).

    However, considering the omnipresence and rapid development and deployment of new wireless technologies, ANSES’ report recommends limiting exposures for children and for avid users, defined as persons talking on the phone for at least 40 min/day.

    SNIP

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    • 16 OCT 13

    French Health Agency Recommends Children and Vulnerable Groups Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure

    From Joel Moskowitz

    Tuesday, October 15, 2013
    French Health Agency Recommends Children and Vulnerable Groups Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure

    Prolog press release here

    In a major public announcement today, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health warned the public to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation.

    The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health, ANSES, announced today the results of a two-year review by an expert Working Group of the scientific research on the risks related to exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation. (1)

    “This update has not brought to light any proven health effect and does not result in any proposed new maximum exposure limits for the population. However, limited levels of evidence do point to different biological effects in humans or animals. In addition, some publications suggest a possible increased risk of brain tumour, over the long term, for heavy users of mobile phones. Given this information, and against a background of rapid development of technologies and practices, ANSES recommends limiting the population’s exposure to radiofrequencies – in particular from mobile phones – especially for children and intensive users, and controlling the overall exposure that results from relay antennas.”

    “The findings of this expert appraisal are therefore consistent with the classification of radiofrequencies proposed by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as “possibly carcinogenic” for heavy users of mobile phones.In addition, the expert appraisal nevertheless shows, with limited levels of evidence, different biological effects in humans or animals, some of which had already been reported in 2009: these can affect sleep, male fertility or cognitive performance.” (pg. 2)

    SNIP

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    • 08 OCT 13

    Project Censored: Wireless Technology a Looming Health Crisis

    From Katie Hickox posted on the cheemf list:

    It’s official: “Wireless Technology a Looming Health Crisis” is the #14 story in the new 2013 edition of the book, ‘Project Censored’, which covers the top 25 New Stories of the year that are the most important but least reported by corporate media.

    http://www.projectcensored.org/14-wireless-technology-looming-health-crisis/

    14. Wireless Technology a Looming Health Crisis
    As a multitude of hazardous wireless technologies are deployed in homes schools and workplaces government officials and industry representatives continue to insist on their safety despite growing evidence to the contrary…

    Continue Reading…

    For more information about this book, and why it’s been produced every year since 1976 by students at Sonoma State University, go here:

    http://www.projectcensored.org/about-us

    fyi

    Katie Hickox

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    • 29 SEP 13

    Consensus: The Australian way?

    Excerpt from the blog Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Dariusz Leszczynski:

    Opinions, recently expressed by Rodney Croft, the newly elected member of the Main Commission of ICNIRP International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and Director of ACEBR (Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research), are worrisome. Especially in the context of his influential position in Australian RF (radio frequency radiation) research that got in 2012 and 2013 ca. $7,500,000 to do research on RF and human health.
    SNIP

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    • 29 SEP 13

    VooDoo science and Australia: We could do far better…..

    Just in case readers have missed the comments to the last message “More pseudo “independent” research in Australia?” here is the comment from Dariusz Lesczcynski. See his qualifications here and his blog here.

    It seems that Australia, because of recent research funding for studies on RF and health, is becoming “Mecca” for RF research. And it has a “prophet” – Rodney – speaking that: “there’s a pretty strong consensus that there’s not a problem in adults”…”We’ve got no reason to believe that there’ll be a greater effect in children than in adults.” It is absolutely embarassing that such statements can be made by a scientist who is considered as expert in the field. There is absolutely no consensus among the scientists. Exception might be a pre-selected private club called ICNIRP, of which Rodney has recently become a member. Nothing else but, unfortunately, Voodoo Science comments from Rodney…
    Dariusz Lesczcynski

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    • 28 SEP 13

    More pseudo “independent” research in Australia? Read the dismissive claims.

    Now we have Rodney Croft leading a research effort to determine the effects of mobile phone radiation on the brains of sleeping children. Of course this is important and much needed research but Croft is still running true to form with dismissive and incorrect statements sure to please the mobile phone industry and Telstra who will have a hidden hand in the research.

    Croft claims that “there’s a pretty strong consensus that there’s not a problem in adults”…”We’ve got no reason to believe that there’ll be a greater effect in children than in adults.”

    REALLY?

    SNIP

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    • 26 SEP 13

    Hardells new results on malignant brain tumours with long term latencies of + 25 years NOW PUBLISHED

    Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use
    Authors: Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg, Fredrik Söderqvist, Kjell Hansson Mild
    Published online on: Tuesday, September 24, 2013

    Previous studies have shown a consistent association between long-term use of mobile and cordless phones and glioma and acoustic neuroma, but not for meningioma. When used these phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) and the brain is the main target organ for the handheld phone. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified in May, 2011 RF-EMF as a group 2B, i.e. a ‘possible’ human carcinogen. The aim of this study was to further explore the relationship between especially long-term (>10 years) use of wireless phones and the development of malignant brain tumours.

    SNIP

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