Cell phone use—how can we be safe

DSC03634 (400x300)Below are some tips from the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.

The organization’s mission is to empower you and me to lead healthier lives. Recently, the group published a list of states and cities asking the question, Do You Know What’s in Your Water? It has measured water, soil, air and more to let you know what you’re ingesting, living around, and using on your skin.

GreenAcres-Bradley Fair just had a seminar where Dr. James Seberger, M.D., Ph.D., a concierge medical doctor in Wichita, KS, said flat out: 35% of the population will develop some form of dementia, and “Alzheimers–we’ve found out through measuring and science–95% of it is caused by environmental factors.”

“In 2014, Healthy Child Healthy World and EWG combined forces. As a program of EWG, Healthy Child Healthy World’s purpose is to empower parents to take action and protect their children against harmful chemicals. Together we inspire parents, promote solutions and influence policy to create a cleaner, greener, healthier world. In the years ahead, EWG’s Healthy Child Healthy World program will engage more parents and caregivers to raise the profile of children’s environmental health.”

This month, EWG tackled cell phone use. Here are tips to help keep us and our children and grands safe:

  • USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER

Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose

either wired or wireless. Experts are split on which version

is safer. Some wireless headsets emit continuous, low-level

radiation, so take yours off your ear when you’re not on a

call. Using your phone in speaker mode reduces radiation

to the head.

  • HOLD PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY

Hold the phone away from your ear and your body when

you are talking. If you are using a headset, don’t put the

phone in your pocket or clip it to your belt—put it in

your bag, purse or on some nearby surface. The amount

of radiation absorbed by your head and body decreases

dramatically with even a small distance.

  • TEXT MORE, TALK LESS

 Phones emit less radiation when sending texts than during voice

communications. Texting keeps radiation away from your head.

  • CALL WHEN THE SIGNAL IS STRONG

Fewer signal bars mean the phone must try harder to

broadcast its signal to the tower. As much as possible,

make and take calls when your phone has a strong

signal. Research shows that radiation exposure increases

dramatically when cell phone signals are weak.

  • LIMIT CHILDREN’S PHONE USE

Young children’s brains can absorb twice as much cell phone

radiation as those of adults. EWG joins health agencies in at

least six countries in recommending limits for children’s phone

use, such as for emergencies only.

  • SKIP THE “RADIATION SHIELD”

Radiation shields such as antenna caps and keypad covers

reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit

with greater energy, generating more radiation.