Our mobile phones which use full-duplex two-way radio telecommunication over a cellular network of base stations known as cell sites are extremely useful devices in today’s world. How many times have we felt irritated without our mobile phones or felt we cannot live for a second without our cell phones? Probably all the time. They do make it easy to communicate with colleagues, friends, and relatives. They also help in education, help to interact on social media, promote business, earn money, do online banking, take photographs and locate through GPS. We use them as calculators or flashlights too. We set alarms, reminders and use them as erstwhile diaries. Even as they make living easy, they also harm life.
As we move to adopt 5G mobile technology, which holds a promise of ten-fold increase in data transmission rates compared to current 4G networks, should we be worried about more health risks? The higher performance is achieved by using a higher transmission frequency. Will the electromagnetic radiation change with higher frequencies, causing even more severe physiological effects on us? However, research has it that there is insufficient data for 5G’s health risk assessment.
Apart from mobile phones, we use several other devices in everyday life such as mobile computers, tablets, notebooks. digital media players, digital cameras, still and video included, personal navigation devices, wearable devices, smartwatches, smart cards and so on, besides interacting with Wi-Fi routers and headphones. With a lifestyle that is heavily dependant on these devices, we have gone wireless too. Bluetooth is the new word in our everyday lexicon. Most of these devices use radio frequency to transmit data. Whereas radio frequencies operate in the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum, the higher end are energy fields such as x-rays and gamma rays. The problem however is, even these low energy fields can heat up the body, as with a mobile phone that is held close to the body.
In the process however, what we miss out is the danger from radiation from all these devices. Do we even know how much radiation we are exposed to? Most of the wireless devices emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).
Even the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer back in 2011, classified radio frequency as a possibly carcinogenic to humans and concluded that it is associated with a certain type of brain cancer. However, several recent research reports indicate that cell phone and wireless radiation is positively human carcinogen. In fact, as reported in a reputed journal, being on the phone for 17 minutes or more a day, for 10 years, or about 1,000 hours of lifetime use, increases the risk of developing brain tumour.
As far as mobile phones are concerned, we should be aware of a unit called ‘specific absorption rate’ or the radiation level absorbed by the body per mass of tissue. There are international standards like 2W/kg or less for the head and torso of this unit and that all mobile devices must confirm to it. This rate translates directly as heat that builds up over time. In light of the recent research reports and enhanced risk of cancer, must surely make WHO revisit their guidelines of 10 watts per square metre exposure level for whole-body.
Apart from cancer risk, mobile phones can also influence our nervous system. They may cause headaches, decreased attention, distraction, shortness of temper, addiction, sleep disorders and depression, wasting of time, eye and ear problems mostly among teenagers, though radio waves are not the only reason for such symptoms. One important fallout of mobile use could be cyber bullying where harmful content or negative and false narratives about others is sent, posted or shared. Excess messaging leads to pain in the hands, back, and neck due to poor posture. It even results in musculoskeletal disorders and arthritis in the forearm and thumb.
Apart from all these, there are security issues to contend with. Whereas iPhone IOS is more secure, android phones can be hacked more easily resulting in loss of money, image and reputation.
There is an easy way to check the rate of absorption, whichever be the mobile you may use. Just Go to Settings > About phone > Legal information. Even otherwise, a spectrum analyser can do the job for you. Probably it is time the mobile devices come with radiation labelling on the package and appropriate recommendations especially for children and pregnant women.
The markets are full of anti-radiation products such as stickers, bracelets, maternity belly wraps, beanies and anti-radiation fabrics. Are they effective in absorbing radio frequency waves? There is no scientific evidence that says they do so.
Probably, we must discourage children, elderly, those with comorbidities and the pregnant from using mobile devices for their absorption levels will be much higher. Above everything else the best practice is to wire the devices and not make them mobile. Using a hands-free kit or speaker mode to keep the phone further away may also be a good idea. In fact, we have made them wireless and mobile for our comfort, without realising that comfort too comes at a price. Similarly, switching off devices when not in use is the best preventive measure.
The earlier generations communicated by writing letters. Would the teens stand the absurdity of sending a letter and not receiving a reply for a week, in today’s instant world? They would probably turn nervous wrecks of a different kind. They use iMessage, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp almost 24/7 x 365 and are unwilling to wait more than 60 seconds for replies. Why teens alone? Are we all not lost in technology?
Media has often promoted that five minute off communication will leave us with lost updates and lost business opportunities. We are fine with arguments over text rather than face to face even if they cause misunderstanding and dysfunction. What have we come to? We have forgotten to talk in the process. We have forgotten that there are healthy relationships to make. We have forgotten how to write. From thinking intelligent human beings, the near accessibility of technology in everything, has created an intensive dependency that could make us all morons and zombies soon. Is it not time we realised the beauty of interacting face to face, like we were intended? Should we not look for a course correction then?