Friday, July 25, 2008
When the head of a respected cancer institute sends a memo to 3,000 staff members, because of a "growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer," you can bet I'm going to wake up and pay attention.
The scientist, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute - pointing to the perils of electromagnetic radiation - was taking a 'better safe than sorry' approach, warning his colleagues to reduce their own cell use and, most importantly, limit their children's use to emergencies because their young brains were still developing.
A driving force behind the memo was Devra Lee Davis, the director of the university's center for environmental oncology.
"The question is, do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain?" she said from her cell phone, while using the hands-free speaker phone, as recommended. "I don't know that cell phones are dangerous. But I don't know that they are safe."
I've always worried that, by the time research has had a chance to study the effects of personal technology products, we will have had thousands of hours of exposure. I worry, in particular, about those of us using laptops - on our laps, with no barrier between the computer and our vital organs - for several hours a day. But, one worry at a time. Thanks to the good doctor, I'm going to employ my handy speakerphone feature, whenever possible, from now on.
And, kids and cell phones? That was never a good idea in the first place.
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