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The energy levels associated with radio
frequency energy, including both radio waves
and microwaves, are not great enough to
cause ionization of atoms and molecules.
Therefore, RF energy is a type of non-ionizing
radiation. Other types of non-ionizing
radiation include visible light, infrared
radiation (heat), and other forms of
electromagnetic radiation with relatively low
frequencies.
While RF energy does not ionize particles,
large amounts can increase body
temperatures and cause tissue damage. Two
areas of the body, the eyes and the testes, are
particularly vulnerable to RF heating because
there is relatively little blood flow in them to
carry away excess heat.
Research Results to Date: Is there a
connection between RF and certain
health problems?
The results of most studies conducted to date
say no. In addition, attempts to replicate and
confirm the few studies that have shown a
connection have failed.
The scientific community at large therefore
believes that the weight of scientific evidence
does not show an association between
exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) from cell
phones and adverse health outcomes. Still
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the scientific community has supported
additional research to address gaps in
knowledge. Some of these studies are
described below.
Interphone Study
Interphone is a large international study
designed to determine whether cell phones
increase the risk of head and neck cancer. A
report published in the International Journal
of Epidemiology (June, 2010) compared cell
phone usage for more than 5,000 people with
brain tumors (glioma and meningioma) and a
similar number of healthy controls.
Results of this study did NOT show that cell
phones caused brain cancer. In this study,
most people had no increased risk of brain
cancer from using cell phones. For people
with the heaviest use of cell phones (an
average of more than ½ hour per day, every
day, for over 10 years) the study suggested a
slight increase in brain cancer. However, the
authors determined that biases and errors
prevented any conclusions being drawn from
this data. Additional information about
Interphone can be found at
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2010/pdfs/
pr200_E.pdf.
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