Cell phone users in the United States have increased from 34 million a decade ago to more than 203 million this year. The cell phone is the invention people hate the most but can't live without even beating out the television. The old American Express saying, "Don't leave home without it" takes on a new meaning with the amount of use cell phones have in our world. Over the years concerns have escalated about if cell phones can cause brain cancer. 20/20 even did a show on that same subject back in 1999.
Although cell phone manufactures claim the phones are safe and will not cause brain cancer, it is a known fact that electromagnetic waves can penetrate the brain while holding the phone to your head. Thus the major increase in sales for cell phone head sets.
One fact is for sure about cell phones and that is the correlation between using cell phones while you drive causing more automobile accidents with injury and death. The statistic has increased so much that it is now being watched more closely than drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs and some states are now making it illegal to drive and talk on a phone at the same time while holding it in your hand. Some studies are now showing that it doesn't matter if you hold it or talk while using head phones, the concentration levels of drivers are still more impaired than those drivers that drive while under the influence.
So you make the decision with your own common sense whether to use a headset or not while talking on your cell phone and whether or not to avoid talking on the phone while driving. Of course some states will give you a ticket if you make the wrong decision on the last choice.
1. I've been selling wirlees phones for 8+ years now, I've seen them go from a luxury to a neccesity in most people's lives. I have a vested interest in the FACTS regarding cell phone use, and its effects on people. I've heard it all. I've heard that the EMF fields casue loss of concentration, loss of memory, and all sorts of other detriments. I've also heard the opposite, depending on who is funding the study.
Plain and simple IMHO: in a car, use a headset. You are no more likely to cause an accident than if you were talking to a passenger beside you. Use voice-activated dialing, or pull over, and most of all, use common sense. If you don't, they'll just pass laws to make you do it.
These studies say that they cause brain cancer, loss of memory, loss of concentration, and all of that. I don't believe it. If you do, a headset keeps the transmitter a safe distance from your body.
with all of these studies about mobile phones causing loss of memory, and loss of concentration, I find them hard to believe. There are just as many studies that say the opposite. Oh, wait... did I say that already? It's this darn headache that won't go away. I can't concentrate. What was I talking about? Oh... forget it.
P.S. (or PSA, however you look at it) Please, if your cell phone doesn't get signal in your bomb shelter/basement, please don't take it out on your local wireless rep! We sell wireless, not miracles! thank you.
Posted at 1:06AM on Jul 6th 2006 by Brandon McQuinn