What's Making Waves in Our Brains?
"The cell phone is a remarkable invention and a breakthrough of great social importance. Our society will no longer do without cell phones. None of the members on the expert committee has stopped or intends to stop using cell telephones. This includes Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, a 16 year survivor of brain cancer. However, we, the users, must all take precautionary measures in view of recent scientific data on the biological effects of cell phone use, especially those who already have cancer."
Thus doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, based on advice from an international panel, are urging not panic, but caution. But the number of doctors in their advisory group, and their cautious, workmanlike approach have made an impression on me.
Now with everything from estrogen, to food additives, to where my father worked, to what was in the water when I was five, to the air we breathe and what's in our mascara suspect as something that may have caused my cancer in the first place or make it more likely to pop up again, this is all a little unsettling.
And while I'm not unduly concerned, I am now bothered that my 10 year old granddaughter owns a cell phone - and I'm hoping she'll use it primarily for texting rather than talking.
Perhaps what gave me greatest pause recently were not the words in the Pittsburgh cautionary bulletin - but the image shown.
"1) Electromagnetic fields from cell phones are estimated to penetrate the brain especially in children. (Figure 1.) . . Modeling in the diagram below estimate that young children are more susceptible to electromagnetic fields due to smaller sized brains and softer brain tissue."
Figure 1. Estimation of the penetration of electromagnetic radiation from a cell phone based on age (Frequency GSM 900 Mhz) (On the right, a scale showing the Specific Absorption Rate at different depths, in W/kg) [1]
That's downright disturbing. While the doctors writing the report feel that "Electromagnetic fields generated by cell phones should be considered a potential human health risk" they also caution that not enough time has passed to really have data that is conclusive.
And perhaps the most important observation is that although studies have NOT proven that cell phones are safe NOR show that they present a hazard.
So in the meantime, while a definitive answer is in the works - and who can predict when all experts will agree (I predict: never) - why not do what this panel advises and be aware that:
"..growing evidence indicates that we should reduce exposures, while research continues on this important question.
Read more about the recommendations from the Center for Environmental Oncology and their Environmental Health information. And let's be safe out there. At least as safe as we can figure out how to be.
Never much of a fried foods person I've always liked fruits and vegetables but over the last six months have added some things to my diet and subtracted others in the interest of wellness. Most of the time I'm confident that I'm doing a good job, especially with the help of shopper food/manager daughter Kate who has been somewhat cornered into the role of nutrition guru since she's smart, savvy, a great researcher and has taken on the flipped upside-down role of stay-at-home mom to me. 
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