In a recent post, Cell Phones & Brain Tumors I noted my concerns and earlier last year the NRC (National Research Council / Academy of Sciences) released a report requesting more research on the health effects of cell phone usage. Back in June, when I wrote Electro Hypersensitivity it was just before a report "Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons For Concern" was released in August and even before another full report was delivered to Capital Hill.Recently, Fox News reported that the World Health Organization is releasing its groundbreaking $30 million decade long study into cell phones that found there is a link between long term use and brain tumors. This conclusion upsets the years of Cell Carriers' assurances that cell phone use is safe.
Pong, a new product just released from Pong Research, reduces cell phone radiation or Electric Field Intensity (EFI) by 85% on Apple's iPhone 3GS, according to its manufacturer. Pong Research is also releasing a new product that does the same thing for the Blackberry. Employers may want to think about ponying up now and providing employees with some sort of mitigation device--an ounce of prevention being a better thing.
Here's what could happen if continued research and evidence continues to mount and justify the claims that cell phones and other electronic devices cause negative human health effects:
* Employees may call in sick for any of those symptoms listed in this document under "neurological"
* Questions would arise as to why do employers provide employees tools that expose them to ill health effects?
* A lot of hemming and hawing about previous carrier research that stated ill health effects could not be confirmed
* NIMBY proponents will refocus attention on cell, utility and wind towers
* IF they can, many people will continue to use cell phones even if the U.S. Surgeon General determines that "continued or prolonged cell phone usage may be hazardous to your health"
Regardless of the outcome of cell phone radiation findings, I think we are going to see an environmental movement like no other in history. I also need to repeat what I wrote in Electro Hypersensitivity:
More importantly the scientific research shows that "standards" as we know them technically, are great for machines and wares but not good enough for man. Advancing biologically-based exposure standards that serve the best interests to protect public health are likely to be those new "standards" to unfold sometime in the near future and they won't be written solely by technology committees.
