Over 1.5 billion people around the world use a cellular phone;
however, chances are most of these users are unaware of the damage
they may be doing to their bodies.
According to a four-year research project focused on studying the
effect of radiation on human and animal cells, researchers found
that the radio waves emitted from a cellular phone may harm body
cells and damage DNA in laboratory conditions. Although the study
did not prove that mobile phones are a risk to one's health,
it did indicate that cells exposed to electromagnetic fields, similar
to those of mobile phones, showed a significant increase in single
and double-strand DNA breaks.
This damage could be permanent, not to mention that remaining
damage could set the stage for future degeneration of cells.
Additional research could take another four or five years. In the
meantime, researchers recommend against using a mobile phone when
a fixed line phone is available, as well as using a headset connected
to a cell phone whenever possible.
USA
Today December 21, 2004
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