Cellphones: The New Cigarette?
The other day, my eight-year old daughter asked me when she could have a cell phone. Irritated at the mere thought of my precious one joining the masses of teenage texting/twittering junkies, I gave her my stock answer: “When you’re sixteen”. She was horrified, “but all my friends have them, at which my husband butted in with his usual, “and if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do the same?” She stomped out of the room. Battle to be continued. This pleasant breakfast conversation, however, got me thinking: Is a cell phone really the new cigarette? Kids are dying to have one and the moment they get it in their sticky mitts, they become completely addicted.
I car pool with one of my daughter’s friends and before this delightful nine-year old got her cell phone, we’d have fascinating conversations on the way to school, or they girls would sing along to Taylor Swift. Now a silence ensues as her neck is crooked down- 3 inches from the screen and her thumbs are like two little Sumo wrestlers going crazy. “You know that that cell phones are dangerous girls,” I stated, as I watched my daughter in the rearview mirror, drooling with envy, “they can give people cancer.” It seemed although they both ignored me and the Sumo wrestlers carried on doing their thing – later, however, I overheard my daughter telling one of her friends that “cell phones can make you sick,” and sadly, I think she’s speaking the truth.
As a Green Expert and a mom who tries to navigate her way through a world, where toxic pollution is inescapable, I feel a responsibility to delve a little deeper into a topic that the media has given little credence too. We’ve heard the odd reports here and there that cell phones could emit dangerous radiation and that some models are worse than others, but we tend to want to believe the Industry backed reporters, who tell us that they’re perfectly safe. Why? Because we’re addicted too, and don’t want to have to turn off our lifeline to feeling connected. Ironically, we’ve become totally disconnected from the pulse of life, and our awareness of what is really going on around us, is completely impaired when we’re on the phone. Numerous tests have shown that after a hands-free phone conversation in a car, the driver’s brain waves are similar to that of a seriously drunk driver! So should we take the warnings of the few scientists who manage to dodge the industry lobbyists and offer us their foreboding warnings about the biggest elephant in the room?
A pollutant is something that is harmful to nature and to oneself. As a Green Expert, I have spent many years investigating the many products that we handle and use throughout our day that could add to our “Body Burden” of toxic chemicals. Many of these chemicals are possible carcinogens and so is a cell phone. These little rectangles of technology that we talk into emit Electromagnetic Radiation, which could cause a plethora of adverse health effects, including brain tumors. Children are particularly susceptible because of the thinness of their skulls and because they have more brain fluid. There has been a 40% increase in brain tumors in children over the past 20 years, which correlates with the time that cell phones have been heavily in use. Interestingly there has also been a 46% increase in cell phone use in children between the ages of 8 – 12 in the past five years. Cell phones still emit EMR when not being talked into and can affect any area of the body where the phone kept, which is why it’s important not to allow a baby or a toddler to play games on your phone, and to always turn the it off when not in use.
Dr George Carlo, former lead epidemiologist of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, led a $25 billion study on cell phones and public health in the 1990’s. Dr Carlo says, “There are over 300 statistically significant findings showing an increased risk of tumors [from cell phone use]. There are about three or four statistically significant findings showing no increased risk. So it’s like 300 to four. Now how do you reconcile that with what you see in the news media? We have never had an exposure like this before. We’ve never had an exposure that’s dangerous that’s being sustained by four billion people (cell phone users worldwide). We’ve never had it in history.”
So as a girl who relies rather too heavily on her Blackberry (one of the worst EMR emitters,) and mother to a wannabe tweeter, what should I do? I usually try to live by The Precautionary Principle, whereby I won’t use something until it’s proven to be safe (the opposite is generally true in the U.S. in that something isn’t taken off the shelf until is proven to be harmful,) however cell phones have proven to be a huge exception in this case. The truth is, I can’t get by without one.
So unless I become a radical, or risk alienating my daughter forever, I need to exercise caution and this is what I do:
1: Turn off my phone when I’m not using it (a total pain, but actually quite a relief not to be bothered all the time.)
2. Always use the speaker- phone (unless in the car, where I have Bluetooth)
3. When at home, use a landline that’s connected to the wall or put my cordless phone on speaker (cordless phones are just as bad.)
This is what I would advise for a child:
1. Use only in emergencies!
2. Only use the speaker- phone and never put the phone to your ear.
3. Turn off the phone when not in use.
4. Install a landline connected to the wall in their room.
Watching Don Draper and his wife Betty on Madmen, puffing away morning, noon and night, reminds me that it was only fifty or so years ago when my parent’s generation thought that it was perfectly normal and not in the least bit unhealthy to smoke cigarettes all the time. When the warnings started to trickle in, I was a teenager and literally couldn’t live without my Marlboro Lights. All parental warnings seemed prudish and silly – it was something that anyone who was remotely cool did – and therein lies the problem: will it ever – can it ever become cool to not use a cell phone? I highly doubt it. I just pray that my daughter has the sense and awareness to understand the world she’s now living in, a world where cancer rates across the board have tripled over the past 30 years, and many of these diseases have been attributed to environmental causes. Living a Green life is less about eco-chic cell phone covers and more about wising up to the fact that almost everything we use can have a negative impact on the environment and especially our closest environment, which is our body. It’s a tough call to have to dodge the many bullets that we now face, and no one wants to become a Green zealot or a bore, it’s all about awareness and questioning. The greatest gift that my father gave me was to question everything that I was told – in particular what I saw on TV and read. With the cell phone industry being as powerful as it is, I’ll just have to encourage my daughter to do the same.
If you are as concerned as I am about the probable dangers of cell phones, try for one week to limit your use to the bare minimum. You may be pleasantly surprised how easy it is. A friend of mine dropped cell iPhone down the toilet last week and didn’t have time to get another. “It’s the most peaceful week I’ve had in years!” she told me. If the habit proves too hard to break, at least consider getting yourself an Air Tube Hands Free Set, which is apparently the only headset that can protect you from the dangerous rays.
Environmental Pollutants are just about everywhere, so unless you go live off- the- grid in an eco-community (and even then you’ll still get a few,) the most savvy thing you can do is to make a mental list of the worst offenders and then do something about it. If you lived in a community where the local water supply had been polluted with possible carcinogens, you would likely do something about it yesterday! Don’t ignore the elephant in the room and protect yourself and your family today from one of the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants around.
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21 Comments
Ask your landlord if he’s willing to sign a statement notarized by an attorney that there NO health risks. I have wifi in my house but my bedroom is my bedroom. I think most talk about cellphones is pseudosciene mumbojumbo BUT I put it in airport mode at night. I think kids having cell phones is ridiculous. Not because mobile phones may have a health risk but they are CHILDREN. They must learn the responsibility of owning one. If she wants a phone then let her pay the bill with hard work just like most all adults. I think sixteen is appropriate age cuz they can get a job. If I had children there would no tv in the house LOL
I don’t have a cell phone. I would prefer never to have one. But the societal pressure to get one is huge and I know I won’t be able to avoid it forever, esp. once my son gets older and I need a way to be in touch with him. Isn’t there a way to make cell phones less sexy to the younger generation? Apparently citing cancer stats isn’t enough.
I think about this every day! I’m addicted to my iPhone. Even at night, I use it as an alarm clock and I feel a little uneasy about having it so close to my head all night long. In my mind, there is no doubt that this needs to be explored further so that we have the information we need to make informed choices!
T Colin Campbell, author of The China Study concluded from 30 years of research that a low-animal protein, plant based diet prevents cancers, even when bodies are exposed to carcinogens. I wonder if the same helps for radiation such as that from cell phones.
I’m still figuring out if this a real threat. cell phones emit electromag radiation. FACT: england, germany, france have regulations on cell phones… banning cell phones is ridiculous, monitoring them is more realistic. They affect children more because kids are still developing… look at who funds the studies
found this link:
http://electromagnetichealth.org/quotes-from-experts/
I often think of Kris Carr’s aphorism-don’t follow the human herd. I definitly use this principle with cell phones-they are the new cigaretts-it’s only a matter of time. Kids with phones-so sad to see kids so persueded by marketing gurus who can so easily trump the parental authority and family values-not to mention personal and environmental health.
I was completely against getting my young daughters a cell phone. Now, this was years ago (10?). Then, one night signals got crossed and my very responsible daughter (12) and her friend ended up accepting a ride with some teenage boys. As the story unfolded, and I couldn’t find her. It got later and later and I was in a complete state of panic. Everything turned out ok but I went out the next day and bought her a cell phone. It was a godsend as they were growing up. Very easy for them to call (no excuse not to) and also for me to get a hold of them if I needed. We had pretty strict rules but at a certain point, there is a safety issue.
I don’t have a cell phone, but I am betting that I’m not less at risk for any of the ill effects of all these electrical gadgets. They are everywhere. Also, I just read this book called The Autoimmune Epidemic–wow–very eye opening. The rise in autoimmune disorders is astronomical–1 in 12 have one. And they are clearly linked to chemicals in the environment. Studies conducted by fringe scientests are now being taken seriously. I do think all of these modern inventions are taking their toll.
Another add on–there are some good studies that show that parents who use cell phones to monitor where kids are, are actually lied to by their kids more than those who don’t. And my college students all agree about lying to parents about where they were when their parents called. So just b/c a child has a cell phone doesn’t guarantee safety or knowledge of their whereabouts. It’s a crazy crazy world.
Here is my list of NO Way Jose’s for my kid:
1. No Cell phones (mine is pay as you go for REAL emergencies only)
2.no TV in your room
3. no phone in your room
Whatever happened to talking face to face and sharing stories?
tomorrow I have our first meeting of the mother/daughter book club. I am hoping that good old fashioned reading, talking and relating will win out over technocrap.
Wish me luck, it’s a warzone out there for parents!
deb
sophie, ditch the blue tooth! and keep the cell phone off your body — do not put in ‘holster’ around belt, in pants pocket, etc… excellent program on dr oz a week ago, maybe still on you tube? cannot remember guests name… live in nyc and the number of young adults using cells and non-stop ‘texting’ on streets, subways, buses is scary… do not have a young child, ‘but if i did…’ i agree other comments that state ‘no way’… what about those phones that can be restricted for use/minutes? it seems true that in emergencies, cell phones are indispensable [was stranded in car for two hours and cannot imagine how i would have coped without my cell]… and i applaud mom starting book club and send tons of positive energie toward your efforts
thanks Marlene!
I deliberately leave my cell phone at home once off work and in the weekend, it is so deliberating to walk in the park or go shopping and not be bothered by the phone. If people really need to talk to you they will call back.
Heyy
I understand what you are saying about mobiles being dangerous, however. Im 16 and i have had a mobile since i was around 7 or 8. nothing fancy (till i got to high school) but all for safety reasons. Teach your child not to keep it turned on, not to text all the time. Give her control of topping it up. £5 a month or something. she is a modern child, in a modern era,you cant escape that.
x
In Quebec, driving while talking on the cell is illegal.
Thank you for this! About four years ago I gave up my cell phone. The numerous reasons are too lengthy to go into but one of them was the amount of time I was spending on the phone while on the road….two concerns for the price of one! I was very concerned about the hot spot on my temple, the dizzy feeling and a host of other irritating effects I noticed. That is not to mention the true addiction I felt. Life has been calmer, more sane and much more healthy since tossing away the cell phone. As it turns out it isn’t any more cumbersome to use the old land lines than it ever was. Works just fine. For winter Midwest emergencies on commute I have a Trac phone in the car. Life is simpler and far less frantic.
Great post! I too have all but eliminated my cell phone use. I feel safer if I have one with me, but it’s off unless needed. I worry about the denial of this danger too, especially for kids.
xo
Eco Mama
We have four kids and the basic rule is if they want a cell phone they have to earn one.
That rule aside, I myself don’t even have a cell phone anymore. Not having one saves me time, money and gives me back the sweetness of being “unreachable” when I want to be.
i had also came across the same situation few years back when my 10 yrs old son asked me for a personal cellphone. somehow i managed to get the situation in my control.
Having a cellphone has become a trend in younger generation and so i try to use less gadgets in front of my children
But kids aren’t holding cell phones up to the head hardly ever, they almost always text! So even if EM were a danger (I’m not convinced) it wouldn’t matter for teen use.
I think a greater danger is keeping your daughter out of the social loop of friends. As you saw she’s not even really talking to her friend sitting right next to her, whereas she would be if they were both texting… We need to let each generation live as it has chosen, or at least provide a means for our children to join in if they wish.
yes i am totally agree. cell phones are getting more worse than cigarette. But facebook is also becoming more addictive.
Thanks for this piece, sophie. I try to keep my cell phone use to a minimum. I have a landline and it’s so much more pleasant to use! I also use the phone as an alarm clock, but make sure it is switched OFF during the night.
On a related matter, does anyone know about the health risks of wireless internet? I have a wireless device in my bedroom (can’t be placed anywhere else :-() that provides the whole building with internet. It’s a couple of meters from my head. My landlord and computer wizard tells me there are no health risks, can anyone verify that? It’s not as if the device is stuck to my ear as a cell phone is…but is a few meters far enough away?
December 11, 2009