Introduction
What are the potential health issues associated with cellular telephone use?
Whether it’s the increased use of cell phones by children, or the overall increase in cell
phone use by adults, human exposure to electromagnetic radiation is happening in
ways never dreamed of before. Very young children are using them, teenagers live on
them—and some even sleep with them on their pillows, as cell phones are often used
as alarm clocks.
What do these exposures consist of and what do they mean for human health?
Whether cell phone use affects the human nervous system and reproduction, causes
DNA damage and behavioral changes, or creates addictive behavior, cell phones are
now ubiquitous in our lives.
Cell phone technology has changed quickly over time and continues to develop, which
means that human exposures also change over time. This report explores what we
know about cell phone use, exposures, and human health.
Whether it’s the increased use of cell phones by children, or the overall increase in cell
phone use by adults, human exposure to electromagnetic radiation is happening in
ways never dreamed of before. Very young children are using them, teenagers live on
them—and some even sleep with them on their pillows, as cell phones are often used
as alarm clocks.
What do these exposures consist of and what do they mean for human health?
Whether cell phone use affects the human nervous system and reproduction, causes
DNA damage and behavioral changes, or creates addictive behavior, cell phones are
now ubiquitous in our lives.
Cell phone technology has changed quickly over time and continues to develop, which
means that human exposures also change over time. This report explores what we
know about cell phone use, exposures, and human health.
The Cell Phone Problem
Electromagnetic Radiation
■ All cell phones emit a type of radiation called an electromagnetic
field (EMF), composed of waves of electric and magnetic energy
moving together through space. Different types of ele
ctromagnetic
energy are categorized by their wavelengths and frequencies and
comprise the electromagnetic “spectrum” (see next page).
■ Different radiation frequencies are used by different technologies.
Radio waves and microwaves emitted by transmitting antennas are
a form of electromagnetic energy collectively referred to as radiofrequency
(RF) energy or radiation.
■ The RF part of the electromagnetic spectrum consists of frequencies
in the range of about 3 kilohertz (3 kHz) to 300 gigahertz (300
GHz). RF energy is used in telecommunications services, including
radio and television broadcasting, mobile communication, GPS
devices, radio communications for police and fire departments, and
satellite communications. Non-communication sources of RF
energy include microwave ovens, radar, and industrial uses.
■ The complete electromagnetic spectrum consists of both ionizing
and non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation refers to any
type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough
energy to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. Sources
of non-ionizing radiation include microwaves, radio waves, cordless
phones, wireless networks (wifi), power lines and MRIs.
field (EMF), composed of waves of electric and magnetic energy
moving together through space. Different types of ele
ctromagnetic
energy are categorized by their wavelengths and frequencies and
comprise the electromagnetic “spectrum” (see next page).
■ Different radiation frequencies are used by different technologies.
Radio waves and microwaves emitted by transmitting antennas are
a form of electromagnetic energy collectively referred to as radiofrequency
(RF) energy or radiation.
■ The RF part of the electromagnetic spectrum consists of frequencies
in the range of about 3 kilohertz (3 kHz) to 300 gigahertz (300
GHz). RF energy is used in telecommunications services, including
radio and television broadcasting, mobile communication, GPS
devices, radio communications for police and fire departments, and
satellite communications. Non-communication sources of RF
energy include microwave ovens, radar, and industrial uses.
■ The complete electromagnetic spectrum consists of both ionizing
and non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation refers to any
type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough
energy to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. Sources
of non-ionizing radiation include microwaves, radio waves, cordless
phones, wireless networks (wifi), power lines and MRIs.
