In today’s world, cell phones are part of a life. As the technology improves more and more people are buying cell phones. Many new cell phones are like a small computer, as they have a picture and video camera, web browsing, music player, internal storage, and many other features. “Statistics show that 79% of the U.S. population and 90% of European and Asian teens own a cell phone” (O’Keefe, 2008, p. 671). In some countries around the world such as Israel, Hong Kong, Italy, and the Czech Republic, there are more cell phones than people (Kohli, Sachdev, & Vats, 2009, p. 5). In 1993, a man named David Raynard from Florida appeared on the Larry King Live and accused a cell phone industry that his wife died because of cancer that was caused by a cell the use. From that time cell phone radiation has been one of main concerns to people (Park, 2001, p. 166), but since then several studies have proved that cell phones do not cause any health problems.
There are two types of radiations, ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation consists of Gamma rays, X-Rays and ultraviolet radiation. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to damage the nucleus of atoms causing damage to DNA which could lead to changes in chemical reactions in the body (How Cell-phone Radiation Works, 2001). Cell phones function at 900 or 1800 MHz frequencies. These frequencies fall within the same part of the radiation spectrum as the radios and televisions which are referred to Radio Frequency Radiation. Radio Frequency Radiation falls in the range of non-ionizing radiation (Kohli, Sachdev, & Vats, 2009, p. 6). Non-ionizing radiation consists of radio, television, cell phones, microwave, and visible light (“How Cell-phone Radiation Works”, 2001). Non- ionizing radiation has enough energy to change the energy levels of the electron, but doesn’t have enough energy to destroy or move any part of an atom. This causes increase in heat level of the area that
References: Kohli, D. R., Sachdev, A., & Vats, H. S. (Jan-Mar2009). HowStuffWorks (2001, August 08). How Cell-phone Radiation Works. Retrieved July 18, 2009. HowStuffWorks.com. Thajudin Ahamed, V.I., Karthick N.G., & Paul K Park, L. R. (2001, February 7) Cellular Telephones and Cancer: How Should Science Respond? Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 93(3), 166-167. Johansen, C., Boice, J.D., McLaughlin, J.D., & Olsen, J.H. (2001, February 7). O’Keefe, S. (2008, August) Does the Use of Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors? Oncology Myths and Legends: Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(4), 671-672.