So we've all heard the scare with the tie between Cell Phones and Brain Cancer. Does it hold any weight though?

The FCC limit for radiation emitted from a cellular phone is 1.6 W/kg which is a specific absorption rate (SAR- measures the amount of radiation absorbed by the body when using a cell phone).
Around 4 billion people worldwide talk on cell phones, and about 250 million in the U.S. alone.
The connection between radiation emitted from cell phones and brain cancer developing is a topic that is very widely debated and contested. Because there has been no "consistent" data, people can use the data to support whichever claim (whether there is or isn't a link) they would like. However, after looking at the actual data you might think differently about that. Of course most of the people contesting are the cell phone companies themselves. Also i believe they are trying to prevent a full-on panic. But some warning about the potential risks might be a good idea...

The report "Cell Phone Radiation: Science Review on Cancer Risks and Children's Health," was released last week by an advocacy agency in Washington called the Environmental Working Group. It was about cell phone radiation, cancer risks and children's health, and it was noted within the report that children have higher risks of developing brain tumors (gliomas) from cell phone use than adults.

Finland, Sweden, France have all conducted independent research and have since issued warnings especially against young children using cell phones (children's brains absorb more radiation than adults, because they have softer skulls and developing brains which make them more susceptible to tumors). In France they found that people who had used cell phones for more than 10 years had sig. higher risk of getting a brain tumor on the side of the head they used to talk on with their cell phone. In Sweden, researchers found out that their highest risk group for developing brain tumors were people who started using their cell phones during their teen years.

here is a very helpful PDF that illustrates and organizes bullet-points (so to speak) for concern.

here is a list of cell phones and the radiation emitted. Where does your phone rank? Mine is 0.54 W/kg. (On the "low" side)

Well, how does this make you feel? Do you think it's just another attempt to tie cancer to something absurd or do you think the research holds any merit?

It certainly makes me glad that I let kiddo only talk on the phone via speaker phone from a distance. In my opinion, it is one of those things that CAN happen but most likely won't. Perhaps that's my denial talking though? I see no reason why the govn't shouldn't issue a warning for the possibility of that happening though. It is a real issue and a risk people should be told about to be able to make an informed decision.

So,what can you do to reduce the risk? Think twice about letting your children use a cell phone, especially for extended periods of time. And if you must to talk on your cell phone a lot...Use an earpiece! It's something many people are opting for anyway now-a-days because of the new talking-while-driving laws and danger of handling a cell phone trying to drive attentively.