Are Cell Phones Dangerous? Or, more to the point, is the radiation emitted from a cell phone a hazard to your health and well being? Last fall I didn’t know much, if anything, about the risks of cell phones and wireless devices.
Since then I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching the effects of the radio frequency radiation that our smart devices emit. The results of my inquiry are somewhat frightening. Why? Because a growing body of evidence shows that wireless radiation, even at low levels, can be harmful to our health in many ways.
Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer?
Cell phones are listed as a Class 2B carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). This category is defined as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” putting cell phones and other smart devices in the same category as lead, DDT, and jet fuel.1
According to a study in the journal Pathophysiology, heavy cell phone use triples the risk of brain cancer.2 This study also demonstrated that individuals who began using cell phones as teenagers more than quadrupled their risk of brain cancer.3
Researchers at the National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducted a study exposing rodents to radio-frequency radiation levels emulating those that humans experience with heavy cell phone use. The findings concluded that such exposure is associated with the formation of cancer in the brains of rats.4
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
In 2008, Dr. Ronald Herberman, an oncologist, as well as Founder and Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Comprehensive Care Center, issued a memo stating:5
Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer. Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.
Dr. Herberman recommended that children should not be “allowed to use cell phones other than for emergencies,” and also warned, “Avoid using your cell phone in places like a bus where you can expose others to your phone’s EMFs.” He further stated that people should, “Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times.”
The Powerful Telecom Lobby
Did you know that the telecommunications lobby spends more than $87 million per year convincing our elected officials that cell phones are safe?6
The telecommunications industry is fighting an ordinance in Berkeley, California requiring cell phone retailers to post warnings for customers regarding the radiation exposure from mobile devices.7 These warnings are found in fine print, buried deep in cell phone user manuals. Lobbyists claim that posting these warnings will cause undue panic.8 For the iPhone this reads:
To be sure that human exposure to RF energy does not exceed FCC, IC, and EU guidelines always follow these instructions and precautions. When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 5/8 inch away from the body.9
In 1977, Berkeley became the first American city to ban smoking in restaurants. Who have the cell phone companies enlisted to fight this battle? The same lawyer that defended Big Tobacco for decades.
Other Sources of Wireless Radiation
In addition to cell phones, there are many other sources of wireless radiation including:
- Smart Meters
- Computers Using Wi-Fi
- Wireless Printers
- Wi-Fi Routers
- Wireless Speakers
- Cordless Phones
- Microwaves
- Smart Home Devices Including:
- Light Switches
- Thermostats
- Sound Systems
- Door Locks
- TV’s and Remotes
- Appliances (Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers)
- Smart Watches and Fitness Trackers
- Airport Scanners
- Gaming Consoles
- Baby Monitors
My Personal Experience with Wireless Radiation
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006. After that initial MS attack, I was highly functional until 2014. That was around one year after we moved into our new house.
I was involved in every aspect of building the house, other than the electronics. Our contractor recommended a smart house. I did not research the implications, let alone the potential impacts that hundreds of wireless access points in one’s living space could have.
As time passed in our new home I became sicker. I also spent more time at home, which I later learned made me even sicker. Finally, I hired two building biologists (Riun Ashlie and Risa Suzuki) to investigate the complex systems we installed. What did we find? Something rather frightening.
Smart meters contain a device that communicates wirelessly using radio frequency radiation. This is called a zigbee chip. We had more than 200 zigbee chips in our new home and it’s taken months to remove all of the smart technology. If you look at the list above, we had a large portion of the devices on it.
We removed the last smart technology from our house in February. For three and a half years I lived in a home that contained radio frequency radiation levels well over 1,000 times those recommended by the Building Biology Association. It’s now been eight weeks since we removed the last of the smart lighting system and other devices.
I’m starting to feel better, but I know it may take more than a few weeks to get well after sleeping with 3 zigbee chips within a meter of my head as well as all around my living space. I’ll keep you posted on my progress and will continue to discuss the health ramifications of wireless technology and the radio frequency radiation that accompanies it.
For more information on steps you can take to reduce your exposure to radio frequency radiation see:
Wendy says
Hi Elena –
I’m sorry for all that you have been through. I have been sick with Lyme and neurological symptoms for a few years so I truly understand and sympathize with your health struggles. I was wondering if you are familiar with the medical medium Anthony William? I only ask because it wasn’t until I read and followed the advice in his 2 books (Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal and Life- Changing Foods) that I finally began to heal. No more vertigo, dizziness, weakness, muscle twitches, headaches, balance issues, severe muscle fatigue and generalized fatigue etc. have been eliminated or greatly reduced in just a mater of a couple of weeks. I also learned a lot and benefited from his free on-line class at his website and listening to his podcast. Just wanted to mention that because I am now on the healing path and if I can help anyone I will. Take care –
Elana says
Thanks so much Wendy! Yes, I have that book :-)
daphne says
Oh, my goodness I am so sorry Elana! What amazing detective work you had to do. I hope your new home will soon be the healthy, warm embrace your were hoping it would be for you and your family. Thank you for all you do for so many.
Elana says
Thanks Daphne! Yes it was a load of detective work. Thank goodness our house is a healthy home now :-)
Nida Hoshimi says
Glad this issue is coming to light for people. Our family was stricken with Lyme disease and when we built our house we made sure that EMFs and any poisons (ie..pesticides in woods, mold) where not part of our future plans…Have you heard of Mary Cordaro? She is in LA and is a treasure trove of info. and such a nice person to boot!
Good luck.
N Hoshimi
Elana says
Thanks Nida!
Chara says
Elana, I’m glad you are reporting on this. I agree it is a very real concern, and I notice frequently that European scientists seem to be taking the issue more seriously than American scientists.
I would like to offer for anyone concerned about this a resource from Eden Energy Medicine. Donna Eden, an energy practitioner highly respected by a number of prominent U.S. physicians, married to a man with a PhD in the sciences, and who has published books and taught around the world, has found that people who are especially susceptible to EMF’s have what she calls a “homolateral” energy pattern, where the body’s energy is running in parallel lines rather than in its correct intertwined way. Donna has developed a handful of very simple energy corrections to take oneself out of the homolateral pattern so one’s energy field is more robust and resilient. One can feel a pretty immediate difference. Her website and YouTube videos may be helpful for those who find their bodies particularly susceptible to EMF energies. My hope is that eventually we all learn to protect ourselves from EMFs, but as others have noted, this is very difficult today given how pervasive they have become. I like relying on simple exercises that give me some protection since I can’t always control my environment.
Elana says
Thanks Chara!
Shirley says
It’s amazing how some of us are so sensitive and others don’t seem tor react to things like EMF’s.
I suffered with migraines and we finally removed all cell phones, wifi, and portable phones. We still need to work on the wiring, but our house was built in the 70’s so its not a smart house, thank goodness for that. My migraines decreased to almost nothing when we went back to ethernet and plugged in phones. I can only image what it is doing to our kids who are in Smart schools. Thanks for sharing Elana
Elana says
Shirley, thanks so much for sharing your story! I’m so glad you found relief from your migraines by reducing your exposure to EMF’s.
Grace says
Thanks so much Elana for sharing with us as you learn on this journey!
When you posted a few months ago about EMFs I began to read and research this issue and its connection to behavior in children. We have greatly benefited as a family from this information. Dr. Toril Jelter has done some great research in this area and created a Calming Protocol for children.
We have an almost 100% WiFi-free zone in our home and cars now, removed our cordless phones, dimmers, baby monitor and compact florescent lights. It is a process but so worth it!
Thank you again for bringing this important topic to light. :)
Elana says
Grace, thanks for your comment! Creating WiFi free zones is a process, but I agree, totally worth it. Great to hear your experience with this :-)
Melissa says
What are you using for telephone service? I don’t talk much on the phone and mostly text, but in my area, the major phone companies have disconnected land lines and have forced everyone into the voice over internet phones if they choose to have a “home phone.” In our society, we are bombarded with EMF’s everywhere we go! My daughter’s school is a “smart school” and has wi-fi, smart boards, tablets and chrome books in nearly every classroom. She’s in 2nd grade and has begun complaining of blurred vision that coincided with the class being gifted a chromebook for each student, thus enabling the kids to do more applications throughout the day than they were before.
I have begun placing all devices in airplane mode at night and even unplugged the TV and wifi in my bedroom altogether and have noticed a difference in my sleep patterns. This has made me look at other areas more thoroughly, but I am disheartened at one’s ability to avoid EMF’s with “smart” everything everywhere we turn. I have benefited from your hours of research though and greatly appreciate your willingness to share your findings!
Elana says
Melissa, thanks so much for your comment and for sharing your experience with this. In our area both Comcast and Century Link provide land line telephone service. I’m so glad that this post was helpful to you and am glad that we are on this healing path together :-)
Betty says
Elana
Thank you!
I stopped using a cell phone about 3 years ago. I do however talk on my husbands for brief periods.
I worry about my adult children. They started using cell phones in their teens. They are in their 30’s now.
I have sent this post to all 3 of them.
I have cut back on my computer use. However wifi is still running round the clock. I will have to work on this.
Elana says
Thanks for sharing your experiences with this Betty!
Linda says
Thank-you for this valuable information. I was already leary of smart appliances and now you have given me even more reasons to avoid them. I’ve also started using the speaker on my cell phone rather than holding it up to my ear.
Elana says
Linda, you’re very welcome!
d says
Elana – thank you for sharing your resource people for EMFs. (I believe this is something that is affecting my health too.)
Wishing you well, ….may we “all” be well.
Elana says
D, you’re very welcome! I’m sorry to hear that you may be dealing with this, but happy that we are on this healing path together :-)