Electromagnetic
Radio-frequency Radiation (E.M.R.) or (E.M.F.)
Questions & Answers
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What is E.M.R./(E.M.F.)?
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What is S.A.R.?
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How is S.A.R. measured on
a cell phone?
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What is the difference
between a Radio Wave and a Microwave?
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Is it true that radiation
comes from the antenna?
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What is meant by the term
NEAR-FIELD RADIATION?
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What about using a
hands-free kit to keep the phone away from my head?
-
Is there any proof that cell
phones are dangerous?
-
Are there any danger
signals from excessive cell phone use?
-
Should I be concerned about
my teenager using a cell phone?
-
Are there any steps I can
take to reduce the potential risk of cellular radiation?
-
What about products that attach
to the phone or antenna that claim to shield radiation, do any of these items
work?
-
What about antenna boosters
that claim to increase your signal?
-
If radiation shields are
effective, why haven't the manufacturers put one in their phones?
Question 1:
What is E.M.R./E.M.F.?
Answer: E.M.R.
refers to Electromagnetic Radio-frequency Radiation which is the potentially
dangerous frequency emitted by cellular or mobile phones. High frequency
ionizing forms of radiation exists as X-rays, Gamma rays and forms of nuclear
radiation known to be hazardous . Non-ionizing radiation of lower frequency
ionizing forms such as early cell phones were thought to be safe. That view has
changed since cell phones and mobile phones have grown in strength from
low-level radio waves to high-level microwaves. No scientific study has proven
conclusively that the use of cellular phones is hazardous to human health, yet
continued use of higher frequency phones could adversely affect the central
nervous system, diminish the effectiveness of the immune system and facilitate
the development of cancer according to scientific research. Perhaps this is why
governments and health organizations worldwide are spending millions of dollars
towards on-going research to determine the long term effects of exposure to
E.M.R from cellular and mobile phones. Learn more about
EMF
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Question 2:
What is
S.A.R.?
Answer: S.A.R. or
Specific Absorption Rate of Radiation is used to measure the amount of radiation
that the human body absorbs from any source, including cellular phones. The
F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission) sets limits as to what they deemed
were safe levels of radiation from cell phones. In the beginning when analog
phones were 800-900 MHZ of power, most of the cell phones manufactured met these
safe guidelines. However as manufacturers raised the power of their phones up to
1800-2000MHZ and analog was replaced by digital, the majority of the cell phones
now exceed the safe levels set by the F.C.C. In fact the manufacturers continue
to lobby to have the levels raised, so they may keep increasing the power of the
phones. The highest S. A. R. in the body is in the ear, thus the concern about
excessive cell phone use and the strength of the signal.
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Question 3:
How
is S.A.R. measured on a cell phone?
Answer: When a
call is made or received there is a band of radiation from the antenna, half of
which disappears into space. The remaining radiation is around the skull, face
and ear area of the user and runs through the circuitry of the phone when
transmitting the call. A dummy head is immersed in a gel-like solution similar
to body fluid and a cell phone is attached to the ear. Readings are taken from
the antenna to determine the S.A.R. strength which will vary from phone to phone
and proximity to the closest signal tower.
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Question 4:
What is the
difference between a Radio Wave and a Microwave?
Answer: Radio
Waves are low levels of transmission power for signals to and from your phone.
These non-ionizing frequencies of radiation are safe. However as signal strength
grows from a few hundred MHZ of power to beyond 800 MHZ, the electro-magnetic
spectrum increases and these waves become microwaves. For example, the older
mobile house and office phones were a few hundred MHZ of radio waves but the
farther you moved from the base, the weaker the signal became and you would lose
the call or it would break up. Now mobile phones are 900MHZ to 2.4GIGS or more
of power so you do not lose the calls as you travel from room to room or go
outside, but your phone is now into Microwaves/infrared waves of radiating
power.
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Question 5:
Is it true that radiation comes from the
antenna?
Answer: Yes, as we
explained in the S.A.R. question, there is a band of radiation around your head
from the antenna half of which disappears into space. However the skull is hard
and there are calcium deposits for some protection. The most vulnerable area for
radiation is the soft tissue of the inner ear where most of the reports of
tumors have been reported. And as we stated the highest incidence of S.A.R. in
the body is in the ear. We have found no reports of tumors on the skull, chin,
face or opposite side of the head, but mainly behind the ear where the phone is
placed when receiving or transmitting a call.
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Question 6:
What is meant by
the term NEAR-FIELD RADIATION?
Answer: Near-field
refers to that portion of the radiation coming off the antenna that goes
directly into the inner ear when you place the phone against your ear to make or
receive a call. This portion of the radiation is considered the most dangerous
to the user for two reasons: 1) As stated, the highest incidence of radiation in
the body is in the ear and 2) most of the reports of tumors have been reported
just behind the ear, thus any product that could effectively block that portion
of radiation from entering the inner ear would be a valuable health
tool.
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Question 7:
What about using a hands-free kit to keep the phone away
from my head?
Answer: Hands-free
kits are currently used for convenience, by law in some states while driving a
vehicle and mostly by concerned cell phone users who want to keep the phone away
from their head because of concern about radiation. However in studies and tests
of many of the hands-free kits by scientists and consumer groups in Europe, they
found that the wire from the ear piece acts as an aerial and actually increases
the radiation by three times. Bluetooth headsets are equally dangerous as the
signal from the phone carries radiation directly into the inner ear.
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Question 8:
Is there any proof that cell phones are
dangerous?
Answer: The jury
is still out on the long term effects of cell phone use, while in the meantime
governments worldwide and health organizations like the World Health
Organization continue to allocate millions of dollars towards on going research
to determine the effects of cell phone usage. These organizations along with
others are documenting more reports of brain tumors and increased cases of
litigation against cell phone manufacturers.
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Question 9:
Are there any
danger signals from excessive cell phone use?
Answer: Many users
report symptoms like hot phones, headaches, fatigue, tingling sensations and
even memory loss. Of course some phones are hotter than others. In a study of
teens under 16 years of age, scientists in Europe reported short-term memory
loss (up to 50 minutes) after using a cell phone.
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Question 10:
Should I be
concerned about my teenager using a cell phone?
Answer: By all
reports, you should be concerned especially for the younger adolescent child.
Their brain tissues are still growing, their skull is half as thick as adults
yet we see a growing use of cell phones worldwide by young teens.
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Question 11:
Are
there any steps I can take to reduce the potential risk of cellular
radiation?
Answer: Yes, first
use a phone with a long antenna pointed away from the head. Every inch is
important. Unfortunately we see manufacturers making phones with short stub
antennas or the antenna inside the phone because the phone has more design
style. If you must use a phone in the car, use a speaker phone so there is no
contact between you and the phone. Cut out non-essential calls to reduce time
spent on the phone. In particular replacing your existing mobile phones at home
with cellular free long distance plans is not a good idea. You may save money
but in the long run not save your health. There are shielding devices on the
market that claim to block radiation. Applying one of these items can reduce
radiation, but ask for valid testing from a recognized government sanctioned
laboratory to back up the claims.
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Question 12:
What about products
that attach to the phone or antenna that claim to shield radiation, do any of
these items work? -
Answer: Most of
these products are bogus, but research supports that two or three of these
shields may actually do what they claim to do. Look or ask for valid testing of
the product used on actual phones by a recognized testing authority. We found
that items that attach to the antenna or base of the antenna claim to block
radiation away (yet let the signal come in) do not work --- they can not do
both. If they did block radiation, they would also block the signal and you
could not communicate.
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Question 13:
What about antenna boosters that claim to increase
your signal?
Answer: We have
checked these items out through testing and personal usage. Our findings are
that they are a simply, at best, a faux ornamnet---no more than a sticker that
attaches on the side of the phone or inside the battery cover. In theory if they
were to work, they would have to be "grounded", plus if they did work and
increased reception, they would increase the radiation from your phone, thus be
counter productive to your well being.
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Question 14:
If radiation shields
are effective, why haven't the manufacturers put one in their phones?
Answer: For
years the cell phone manufacturers have told us radiation levels of phones were
so low it was similar to a hairdryer. And in the meantime they have been raising
the power of their phones to give you better reception, thus increasing the
radiation levels. As well they have told you that shields do not work, yet
recent news reports uncovered patents by the manufacturers indicating that they
are planning on putting a shield inside their phones. We expect that the results
of recent liability law suits against the cell phone makers may change the
future manufacturing standards.
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