More talk emerging on cellphone risks
Fear of exposure to radiation leads to warning about safe use distance
In the movie “La La Land,” the heroine fields calls with her cellphone pressed close to her ear.
When President Barack Obama gave his farewell address, he equated innovation with “a computer in every pocket.”
Some users sleep with their cellphones on the nightstand or tucked under the pillow.
But how close should you get to your cellphone?
The answer depends, in part, on whom you ask. Government experts say cellphones, which emit radio frequency radiation, have not conclusively been linked to any health problem. But some critics point to studies they say raise concerns, including a preliminary report by the National Toxicology Program that rats exposed to cellphone radiation experienced a small but significant increase in heart and brain tumors. Critics also point to studies indicating that cellphone exposure may negatively affect sperm quality.
Given those considerations, we asked government spokespeople, an industry representative and a skeptical scientist what users should do to reduce exposure to cellphone radiation.
Here’s what we found: And, no, you’re probably not doing that. Cellphones are tested for radiation emission — and approved by the government as safe for use — at a small but significant distance from your body. You should be able to find that distance in the fine print of your manual or other instructions that come with your phone, and it differs from phone to phone. You’re supposed to keep an iPhone 7 at least 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) away from your body, a Samsung Galaxy S6 at least 1.5 centimeters (about 0.6 inches) and a Google Pixel 1 cm (about 0.4 inches) away.
Don’t keep your cellphone in your pocket or your bra when it’s powered on. You’ll see small differences in the positions stated on the websites of various government agencies, with the Food and Drug Administration telling us, reassuringly, that “the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cellphones with any health problems.”
The National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences agrees that there’s no conclusive evidence, but it also says that “little is known about potential health effects of longterm exposure to radio frequency radiation,” the kind of radiation emitted by cellphones, and that data from human studies is inconsistent.
Both the FDA and the National Toxicology Program say that if you are concerned about cellphone radiation, you can take two simple steps: You can reduce the amount of time you spend using your cellphone, and you can use speaker mode or a headset to increase the distance between your head and the phone.
There are webpages for that, but make sure you choose the right one. Rather than scrolling around and scaring yourself with off-the-wall claims, consider turning to reputable scientists, such as Devra Davis, who was the founding director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, or Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California at Berkeley. Moskowitz and Davis are among the over 220 scientists who have signed the International Electromagnetic Field Scientist Appeal calling for tougher limits on cellphones and related technologies. Moskowitz offers an extensive list of steps you can take to reduce radiation exposure, including: Keep your cellphone or cordless phone away from your body when it’s powered on, taking special care to maintain distance from your head and reproductive organs. Use your speakerphone or a wired headset, or text instead of calling.
Your cellphone emits more radiation when the signal is poor, so avoid using it in enclosed metal areas such as elevators, cars, buses, trains or planes.
Reduce the time you spend in places where a lot of people are packed together and using cellphones. Turn off your cellphone when not in use or switch to airplane mode.