Cell phone radiation is non-ionizing and generally considered harmless in the short term, but the long-term effects are unknown. There is controversy over whether it could increase the risk of cancer or brain tumors. The amount of radiation emitted depends on the frequency and whether the device uses analog or digital signals. Legal restrictions limit the amount of radiation a cell phone can emit.
Cell phone radiation refers to radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones. This type of radiation takes the form of radio waves close to the microwave range. The amount of radiation a particular cell phone will emit depends on the exact frequency of the radiation and whether the device uses an analog or digital signal. There has been speculation that large amounts of cell phone radiation could be dangerous to the user’s health, but there are no conclusive scientific results on the matter.
There is a degree of controversy about the implications of cell phone radiation and its significance for our health. Some research has suggested that the type of radio frequencies used by cell phones may accelerate the progression of cancer in laboratory animals, but these findings have proven difficult to replicate. Cell phone radiation is known to affect pacemakers, but the main concern is that most cell phone users hold the phone to their ear. If significant levels of radiation enter head tissue in this way over time, some fear it could increase the likelihood of brain tumors and related conditions.
When we think of harmful radiation, things like X-rays or gamma rays usually come to mind, but these types of radiation are different from cell phone radiation in important ways. Radiation on the ultraviolet side of visible light, such as those just mentioned, has a wavelength short enough to alter some of the chemical properties of the objects it interacts with. For this reason we speak of ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation, which includes visible light, microwaves and radio waves, are generally considered harmless. Large amounts can produce a warming effect, such as in a microwave oven, but no short-term harm has been linked to exposure to non-ionizing radiation.
Because cell phone radiation is non-ionizing, it is generally considered harmless in the short term. The question is whether long-term exposure carries any risk. Whether or not it is unknown is unknown, but as cell phone use continues to expand around the world, more information on this issue will likely become available.
The exact source of radiation in a cell phone comes from the transmitter, a device located near the antenna that converts audio data into electromagnetic waves. The amount of radiation a cell phone can emit is limited by legal restrictions in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition, the average radiation levels of most cell phones are publicly available, courtesy of the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S.
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