Today almost everyone uses mobile phones and life seems to be empty with these devices. Many of us can’t imagine life without mobile phones. However, a few of us care of how safe they are. If you are one of them or if you are just a reader who is interested in mobile phones you are in the right place to learn some useful info about the safety of these useful devices we use every single day.
So, cell phones send and receive voice and text messages via radio waves. Those waves compile a form of electromagnetic radiation that connects your phone to a wireless network of fixed antennas called base stations. It is known that cells phones, which are now used by millions of people all over the world, come up with relatively low levels of radiofrequency (RF) radiation that is somehow close to the radiation generated inside microwave ovens and by radars. However, they are designed with much lower intensity. Just keep in mind that emitted power is much higher when the phones are being used than when they are in the “stand-by” mode.
Mobile Phones and Your Health
It is known that the majority of cell phones are harmful for the health. Researches show that high levels of RF radiation may lead to biological damage primarily due to tissue heating effects. However, it is still a question to what extent, and through what mechanism (if any), low levels of RF radiation might cause biological effects. And while there is no clear picture of the biological effects of this type of radiation our current knowledge does not allow us to state definitively that mobile phones are absolutely safe, or that they are absolutely unsafe. In fact, there is no increased risk of brain cancer caused by normal use of cell phones. It’s also safe to use a mobile phone if you have a pacemaker, but as a precaution you should keep it away from your pacemaker and the phone to your right ear.
Risks to children
When it comes to the safety of mobile phones and their influence on children we are generally recommended to keep kids away from such devices as children might be more vulnerable. Since their bodies and nervous systems are still developing parents must be careful when they decide buying refurbished mobiles for their kids. However, if it’s really a must to give your kid a mobile phone you may opt for the simplest option and keep calls short. Actually, it’s better for for kids to cut their usage of mobile phones. The UK Government guidelines advise against mobile phones for under-16s. Cancer Research UK recommends that children and teenagers under-16s should use them only for essential calls.
Know what your apps know
At the end of the article we would like to draw your attention to the permissions apps request as you install them. While it has nothing to do with you health it’s still important for all mobile phone users. If an app asks to access your location, contact list, calendar or messages or to post to your social networking services, consider if the app really needs that information to function. Refuse installing the app if it seems somehow suspicious.
