How your gadgets harm you

[Guest guest]

How your gadgets harm you

_http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3148312,flstry-1.cms_

(http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3148312,flstry-1.cms)

 

NEW DELHI: It's difficult to imagine life without the cellphone or the

laptop. From being luxury gizmos earlier, they are almost human appendages now,

attached to us 24x7. But are we paying a huge price for our dependence on such

electronic items?

 

Recently, a Jawaharlal Nehru University pilot study found that 20 rats

subject to mobile phone radiation had damaged DNA and low sperm count. And last

week, the Union health ministry commissioned the first large-scale study of the

effects of radio frequency radiation from mobile phones on humans.

 

With 250 million mobile phone rs currently in India, and many more

using other appliances like television, computer, vacuum cleaner, microwave

etc, the fear is that these 'essentials' of life may actually be posing a big

health risk because of their electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

 

As such, research has not yet established anything definite about the impact

of EMFs on the human body. They are every where, though we cannot sense

them.

 

Almost all electronic equipments have EMFs and we are constantly bombarded

by the radiation from these fields. But then, not all EMFs have an impact.

Only those with high frequencies -- 2mG (milli gauss) and above -- cause the

maximum harm. And these are usually found in appliances that we use on a daily

basis -- microwaves, cordless phones, computer monitors, fax machines,

cellphones, cellphone towers, hairdryers and so on.

 

Cancer connection?

 

Various international studies have tried to establish the link between EMFs

and some diseases. Doctors believe that constant exposure to high frequency

EMFs leads to digestive disorders, fatigue, hypertension, insomnia,

irritability, low blood pressure, infertility in males, cancer, neurological and

cardiovascular problems.

 

A Swedish study in 1993 demonstrated a 1.7 times higher risk of leukemia in

adults and a 2.7 times higher risk for childhood leukemia from exposure to

EMFs A few years back, the California Department of Health Ser vices concluded

after a seven-year study that EMF exposure is a risk factor for childhood

leukemia.

 

The threat is real and omnipresent. Says oncologist Dr Ramananda Nadig,

president, Health Care Global-Triesta Sciences Bangalore, " Most, if not all,

electrical appliances that emit EMFs are harmful to a certain extent. While

they

may not be initiators of a malignant change, there is every likelihood that

they promote/augment such a change. The more people are exposed, the greater

the risk. That is why it's important that we be cautious of EMFs. "

 

In recent years, experts have been studying the impact of cellphones and

cellphone towers on the human body, and the initial research results have not

been too comforting

 

An Australian neurosurgeon of Indian origin Dr Vini Khurana, recently

published a research paper on the link between mobiles and brain cancer. He

said

using mobiles for over 10 years could more than double the risk of brain

cancer. Mobile phone radiation, he says could heat the side of the head or ther

moelectrically inter act with the brain while Bluetooth de vices and " unshielded

headsets could " convert the user's head into an effective, potentially

self-harming antenna " .

 

Similarly, cellphone towers are a cause of concern. A 2005 study by Gursatej

Gandhi, a re searcher in the Human Genetics Department, Guru Nanak Dev

University, Amritsar, found that " exposure to radio frequency (RF) signals

generated by the use of cellular phones has increased dramatically and is

reported

to affect physiological neurological, cognitive and behavioural changes and to

in duce, initiate and promote carcinogenesis "

 

Price of progress

 

Khurana admits that a link between mobiles and brain cancer has still not

been definitely proven because mobiles have been in use only in the two decades

and it takes years for solid tumours to form. Nevertheless, there is reason

to be worried. Says Nadig " There are currently over three billion cell phone

users worldwide. In India, the numbers are equally big and they are growing

by the day. We don't realise it but holding the phone close to the brain

regularly, increases our chances of brain tumour. "

 

What is further worrying is the fact that children as young as three years

are exposed to cellphones and their growing tissues are much more vulnerable

to harmful radiation. Yet, most experts agree that the maximum harm is caused

when the cellphone is used constantly and over a long period of time.

 

While cellphones can be monitored -- they can be switched off or used on

speaker mode -- there is no way the mush rooming cellphone towers can be

controlled. " The EMF generated from the tower is 24x7 and is of a much higher

frequency. They are a huge threat, " says Ravinder Kohli, professor, centre for

environment, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

 

Dr Howard W Fisher, a Toronto-based natural physician, has been vocal about

the invisible threat to health from EMF radiation. And his concern is voiced

in his bestselling books, The Invisible Threat series. " EMF radiation is a

serious health risk and unfortunately, we are not aware of it. To spend 60

minutes in a Wi-Fi environment is equal to 20 minutes on a cell phone. If the

EMF

radiations can penetrate concrete walls and cellphones can work in

basements, then there is no reason why they can't penetrate human tissues, "

reasons

Fisher.

 

On a recent visit to the country, he was alarmed by the number of power

transmitters in residential areas and markets. They are dangerous, he says. " I

was horrified to see children playing close to the transmitters. They have such

powerful EMFs. I am sure people who live close to them would be suffering

from irritation, fatigue and various other problems, " points out Fisher.

 

What is interesting is that the extent of the harm caused differs from

individual to individual. Some people may be affected more, while it may take

years for some others to develop a disease.

 

But not everybody feels that there is any reason to worry. Says Dr Anusheel

Munshi, professor, radiation oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, " While

too much exposure to EMFs is usually not good, till we have concrete proof

of a correlation between cellphones and cancer, there is no cause for

immediate alarm. " Besides, some people feel that a protective device, currently

available in the market, can minimise the harmful rays. " The MRET polymer chip

significantly reduces the damage caused by EMF, " informs Fisher.

 

Yet, the health risks from EMFs cannot be completely ruled out. There's no

escape from them in a world that is so dependent on all things electronic.

Perhaps, what is required is some bit of caution.