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Federal scientists released partial findings Friday from a $25 million animal study that tested the possibility of links between cancer and chronic exposure to the type of radiation emitted from cell phones and wireless devices. The findings, which chronicle an unprecedented number of rodents subjected to a lifetime of electromagnetic radiation, present some of the strongest evidence to date that such exposure is associated with the formation of rare cancers in at least two cell types in the brains and hearts of rats.
There are some major caveats, though. The results were only observed in male rats; there weren't any significant effects seen in female rats. Exposure in utero didn't seem to affect cancer risk. And in male rats, the incidence of those two cancers was quite low. But even a small increase in the incidence of those cancers could have a major public health impact given how many people in the world regularly use cell phones.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 28 2016, @06:23AM
I read the prelim paper and noticed something odd (or at least odd to me). They were measuring these changes at incredibly high power, up to 6 watts/kg. That strikes me as an impressively large amount of energy, even at the lowest exposure they tested at 1.5W/kg. I mean for exposure levels like that for us humans (average say of 60KG), we're talking 90 watts of radiated power. Now I know my cellphone can't do that and I would be surprised if people are handing around cellphone towers with that much power.
I'm hoping my lack of familiarity with the testing methodology is to blame and that the exposure levels they tested were actually pretty reasonable. I don't consider 1.5W/kg reasonable, but again I may just be misinterpreting the data.
Google says a cellphone could emit up to 2 watts in bursts if needed (but usually is in the milliwatt range in terms of radiated power in the microwave band) while a cell tower may be up to 500W (FCC regulations) but is more likely to be much lower than that (100 Watts or less is typical).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 28 2016, @09:32AM
I don't think the risk is that high, but I do seem to get headaches when I get long calls on my mobile phones than with normal phones. I'm not that concerned since I don't make long calls that often. I might get my head bumped (not hard) almost as often and definitely expose my brain to alcohol a lot more. So the main damage to my brain is probably not going to be from phones.
But those who say it's not ionizing radiation and imply that it thus can't do any damage, are either idiots or being disingenuous. Microwave ovens don't produce significant amounts of ionizing radiation and they can certainly alter or damage flesh. I don't know how many milliwatts it takes to change a few brain cells and whether there can be standing waves or similar.
[1] The problem is too many scientists nowadays don't do research and science to try to find out the truth but do it to get funding or because they need something to publish ;).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 28 2016, @11:22AM
The problem is too many scientists nowadays don't do research and science to try to find out the truth but do it to get funding or because they need something to publish ;).
Oh, I'm quite sure most scientists start out trying to find the truth, but they either 1) get really good at making up bogus commercial applications or over-the-top publishable claims, 2) start doing commercially viable research, or 3) get fired and are not scientists any more. It's not a problem with scientists, it's a problem with society.
Anecdotal example. I'm a doctoral student, so people often ask me what my research is (it's simulations of space plasma, btw). Most scientists and other students (i.e. academia) then start discussing it or something. Everyone else, without exception, first asks "where will that be useful?" Every fucking goddamn person, from businessmen and random schmucks to my parents. Why the fuck does it matter? It's cool, it's interesting - ain't that enough of a reason to do it? I have some enthusiastic template answer about how it's gonna help spaceships and satellites or something, but it's mostly bull to be honest. Luckily, those who ask me that don't have enough scientific background to see that it's bull. As you can see, I'm hoping to master the number 1 from the above list.
Honestly, those who want every piece of research to have immediately obvious applications should go back to the caves and leave us to advance in piece. I'm sure fire didn't seem all that useful at first, either.