CELLPHONES of today may be a health problem of tomorrow, many leading medical experts and scientists claim. Yet around the world governing bodies have been cautious in their warnings and restrictions in relation to the use of mobile phones.
Are we caught in a tug-of-war between environmental alarmists on one side and susceptible officials on the other? Who should we believe if anyone at all?
"Given the immense numbers of users of mobile phones, even small adverse effects on health could have major public health implications," states an World Health Organisation factsheet revised in June 2000.
According to WHO there are an estimated 1.6 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide today. In Trinidad and Tobago recent figures put mobile phone users at over 300,000.
A few of the adverse affects that scientist have identified in relation to cellphone use include a variety of cancers, brain tumors, diabetes and Alzheimer. More common, less mortal, health risks like headaches, fatigue, increased blood pressure and sleep deprivation have also been cited.
Yet as scientific evidence is brought forth to support such theories, evidence is also being brought forward to negate such conclusions. What both sides have agreed upon is that, "nobody knows with certainty what long term health consequences" can be caused by the use of cellular phones.
"It all depends on who you listen to, you will get an finding for or against," said Eugene Young, managing director of Sales and Marketing Inc., Barbados.
"It is a very political thing," stressed Young who happens to be in the business of "environmental protection solutions" which makes it rather easy to see what side of the fence he is standing on.
"Don't count on the World Health Organisation or a government holding to tell you that the use of the cellphone can cause problems," stated Young who recently visited Trinidad as a guest of Victor Industries Limited.
WHO has yet to decree that mobile phones are harmful to your health. In fact WHO has stated that there are certain gaps in the various research conducted (this was in 2000) and that it would take another three to four years of required research to evaluate any findings.
In answer to public concerns WHO coordinated a large study in over 10 countries by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a specialised cancer research agency of WHO) to identify if there are links between use of mobile phones and head and neck cancers.
The findings of that study have yet to be published. Yet, George Carlo a public health researcher who spearheaded a three-year, $27 million research program for the cellular telephone industry insists that the danger of cellphone use is very real. The cell phone industry has disavowed his findings. According to Carlo radiation from wireless phone antennae "appears to cause genetic damage in human blood,".
Young along with his Trinidad counterpart Brian Richardson, are advocating that the individual must decide if a cellphone is harmful to his/her health.
"Who studies do you go by? That is what it all comes down to, the individual. Who do you believe? What is you body saying?" According to Young, "if you are getting headaches stop using your cellphone. If you have an hard time sleeping stop using your cellphone. If you are having memory loss stop using your cellphone....". In other words if you are unhealthy and a doctor rules out all other possible reasons why, then take a good look at your cellphone.
The reason cellphones have become suspect is because of their ability to emit electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radio frequency radiation (RF).
Whenever electricity is conducted through transmission lines, distribution lines or is used in appliances both electric and magnetic fields exists close to the lines or appliances. Therefore electromagnetic fields are found wherever there is electricity and around any object that has an electrical charge, like a cellphone.
Everyone is exposed to a complex mix of EMFs. RF fields which are also given off by microwaves in higher frequencies than cell phones can penetrate tissue. The RF energy is absorbed into the body and produces heat. All established health effects of RF exposure are related to heating.
Handsets transmit RF energy only while a call is being made. According to WHO few studies address the consequences of localised exposure to RF fields to the head.
"With all these illnesses around... what is the only common denominator that is not being checked; the electronic age," said Young.
This businessman has been turned into a "believer" in much the same way he attempts to convert others, through personal ill health experiences. "I used to get headaches, pains in my neck, a ringing in my ears, excessive urination in the night," stated Young who went to various doctors, was on numerous medications and even attempted to buy an air purifier.
"Why is it that I don't get headaches anymore, I don't get red eye, I don't get the burning sensation in my ears anymore?" asked Young. Stumbling upon books and medical articles pronouncing the risks of cellphone use, prompted Young to establish his very own clean-up-environmental-pollution business. Yet, Young wishes to not stop at cellphones but wants to target all electrical devices that can create EMFs at a frequency that can "disturb" ones health.
Computers, televisions, radios, DVD players, VCRs, microwaves, toasters, phones are but a few on a long list presented by Young and Richardson as having adverse health effects.
"Let's not just concentrate on the cellphones," said Richardson whose company cures "sick buildings" by cleaning up electronic pollution produced by various electrical devices. "We are actually engaging in a constant attempt to increase EMF around us because of our lack of knowledge," he said.
According to Richardson a filter plugged into an electrical outlet or powerstrip can effectively remove or reduce high frequency pollutant from electrical wiring.
In terms of the cellphone Young nor Richardson advocate the use of cellphone shield or deflectors that scientist worldwide criticise as contributing to the problem instead of solving it.
Deflectors can often cause the phone to use more power and therefore produce more radiation by blocking the signal between a cellphone base station and the mobile unit.
Shields lose their efficacy because they are continually bombarded by RFs when the phone is in use explained Young. Instead both Young and Richardson have become suppliers of the Safe Space grid, a product of former NASA scientists. The Safe Space grid which is placed on the back of the phone or computer neither shields nor deflects.
The holographic grid in simple terms decodes the frequency, collapses the detrimental EMF field and "clear, reenergise and balance" the entire area. Children and cell phone usage has prompted even more concern for health officials. Countries like UK warn against children using mobile units.