By now, you may have heard about the recent World Health Organization (WHO) study potentially linking cancer to cell phone use; although, the organization says that no adverse health effects have been established.
This hot topic has been around since shoe-size cell phones hit the market in the late 70s. Since then, roughly thirty studies have failed to establish a link between cell phones and cancer.
Cell phones have become our communication umbilical cord; we link with family, friends, and business associates. We have become slaves to our cell phones – talking, emailing, texting. It is hard to believe that we ever lived without these little devices, and now we are being told they are "possibly carcinogenic.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggest these steps if you are concerned about the potential health risks of cell phone use:
Restrict use to short conversations.
Switch to a hands-free device.
Text rather than talk.
Reduce usage by children because their lifetime exposure to cell phones likely will be greater.
I don’t want to alarm my readers, but think about the “possible” cancer causing products we use daily – sun, coffee, pickled vegetables, frozen water bottles, antiperspirant, and the list goes on. What about laptops? Aren’t cell phones just palm-sized computers? There is radiation from power lines and microwave ovens. Are we neglecting areas of potentially greater public health risks? Should these be ignored?
Cell phones have become such a key part of our daily life. I don’t know if they are dangerous, but I don’t know that they are safe either. What I do know is that this latest announcement by the WHO will not stop most people from using them. Will it stop you or will you take your chances until further notification? Does this study make you worry more, less or no differently?
My recommendation: Use your cell phone wisely, safely and only when needed, and especially put it away when driving; we may not know about cancer risks, but we can certainly link many deaths to distracted driving from cell phone use!
Mark Bello has thirty-three years experience as a trial lawyer and twelve years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide legal finance cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by plaintiffs involved in pending, personal injury litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Business Associate of the Florida, Tennessee, and Colorado Associations for Justice, a member of the American Bar Association as well as their ABA Advisory Committee, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.
