Making sense of it all

Now that I have read some research and reviews I am ready to examine what they all say. First off though, I have to say that there is a lot of information out there, and it can hard navigating through it all. Alright, so on one hand the cell phone companies have funded research that doesn’t show there are any health problems when you use cell phones and wireless devices. Other research shows there are some health risks, although they do not know what they could be. And yet other research doesn’t show anything either way, leaving the door open for results to favor either side.

I am remembering Dr. Ronald B. Herberman saying there could be risks and to be cautious, especially with young children. Although he says to be cautious, the National Cancer Institute and others say more studies need to be conducted. Some say there are no risks, while others say the risks are high. NIH says as long as you are within a certain limit you should be fine. It is still interesting to me to fish around and see who has funded the research too. I guess motivation behind something really does drive it.

What I’m seeing throughout most of the stuff I read, the news online, and the forums I looked at, there is inconclusive evidence. Recommendations are for caution and education in the area. Well, I certainly feel educated on the subject more than I was. The whole popcorn video really makes me laugh now. It would be really scary it cell phones could do that!

So I think, as I come full circle here, I am going to take a cautionary approach to this. Looks like the Bluetooth devices emit a lower radio frequency, so they are a little safer. Plus, they free up my hands so I can multitask while talking on the phone. That’s a good selling point! But, I am freaking out slightly by even having my phone in my pocket let alone at my ear all the time. I wonder if it is hurting other parts of my body as it sits on my belt or in my pocket. I think it would be best to limit the amount of time I spend on the phone. At least until more research is done to convince me otherwise. So I am going to wait for more research to be reported before I buy a bluetooth.

The Library

Now this is going to be a long post. Sorry! But I have do much information to share-yeah! I decided to take another route to finding out more information on cell phones and the bluetooth. I popped into the campus library to get some help in finding some of the studies that have been done. That way I can see how old they are, who funded the research, how the study was conducted, and what the outcomes and recommendations are. Geez, that is so much. Isn’t there just one place on the web I can go to that will tell me all of this?

So in the library I talked with a Librarian who had me look through a reference book on technology to gather some key words to use when searching the databases. We came up with mobile phone, cell phone, bluetooth, wireless device, health concern(s), and benefit(s). The Librarian also recommended that I limit my searching to the past couple of years at first. That way I’ll see the most recent research. If that doesn’t produce enough then I can expand that date limitation.

So I searched in Academic Search Premier (what does that mean anyway?) using these search terms: cell phone, health concern, limited to Jan, 2007 – October 2008. I got 15 hits. That seemed pretty good to me. There were a few that seemed off the mark, but most of the titles seemed right. Some of these articles were online and easy to find, but others I needed help finding at first. I went back to the Librarian who showed me how to go out, find the actual journal, and search for the article there to read the full version of it.

I found an article that called for more research. It was about a hearing before legislators with Dr. Herberman (remember him from a previous post?) and his concerns, especially when it came to kids and cell phones. Here’s the information for that article:
Author: Olga Kharif
Title: Cell phones and cancer: more research needed
Date: September 29, 2008
Journal: Business week online
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2008/tc20080925_833994.htm

This next article talks about some history of the research and why so much of it is inconclusive. Mostly due to research labs being shut down and the need to do the studies over long periods of time, which hasn’t happened. It does recommend that people be cautious, know there can be risks, and to use wireless ear devices.
Author: Jay Yarrow
Title: Why cell-phone health concerns persist
Date: August 6, 2008
Journal: Business week online
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc2008085_412407.htm

Here’s an article that claims people have had exposure to radio frequency waves for a long time and there is no scientific data showing that exposure has had bad health effects on human health. It also claims that the studies that have been conducted do not show any adverse affects either.
Author: Peter A. Valberg, T. Emilie Van Deventer, and Michael H. Repacholi
Title: Workgroup Report: Base Stations and Wireless Networks--Radiofrequency (RF) Exposures and Health Consequences
Date: March 2007
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume: 115
Issue: 3
Pages: 416-424
Link: http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/9633/9633.html

Here is an article that claims the use of cell phones can cause damage to cells. It was quite technical.
Author: Tian-Yong Zhao, Shi-Ping Zou, and Pamela E. Knapp
Title: Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes
Journal: Neuroscience Letters
Date: January 2007
Volume: 412
Issue: 1
Pages: 34-38
Article: http://www.drwdowin.com/Downloadable%20Files/CellPhonesUpRegulateApoptosisInNeurons.pdf

Not feeling that I found enough on bluetooths, I searched the same database (Academic Search Premier) for wireless device and health concerns. I came up with 7 hits. I didn’t find anything that was specific to just Bluetooth devices, but more overall ideas on wireless devices like cell phones. Below are more articles I found, but I think I’m ready to sift through it all and make my decision..
Author: Stephen J. Genuis
Title: Fielding a current idea: exploring the public health impact of electromagnetic radiation
Journal: Public Health
Date: February 2008
Volume: 122
Issue: 2
Pages: 113-124
Article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B73H6-4P0N25Y-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=0bb8485508ae62adf1ab32388649a80c
Note: You might need to purchase this article if you are not affiliated with a university that subscribes to this journal

Author: Daniel Krewski, Barry W. Glickman, Riadh Habash, Brian Habbick, and a few more
Title: Recent Advances in Research on Radiofrequency Fields and Health: 2001-2003
Journal: Journal of Toxicology & Environmental Health: Part B
Date: June 2007
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Pages: 287-318
Article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B73H6-4P0N25Y-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=0bb8485508ae62adf1ab32388649a80c
Note: You might need to purchase this article if you are not affiliated with a university that subscribes to this journal

To end this post, I want you to know that some articles are found online and electronic while others are still only printed. I didn’t run into any that were print only, but if I did I’d have to find that journal in the Library to read the entire article. Sounds like just another small step to getting what I need. Also, I noticed that in several of these articles that there were references to other research articles that I could track down and read. That is fascinating to me to find that I can actually network articles together through their references. Anyway, I didn’t look for them, but probably would if I were writing a paper for a class or something.

Bluetooth

I’m back again with some Bluetooth information. But before I get into the exciting information I've found, I want to throw out a thought and answer some of the question people posted in their comments. As I look through the thousands of hits I get on Google and realize how much information is out there, I am thinking understanding where and how to find accurate and reliable information is just as important as learning basic skills like reading, writing, mathematics, etc. It seems like its a skill that I need to work on but that is important for anyone looking for information in today's world. There is just so much out there and its hard to know what to believe sometimes. Ok, so I am so excited I have some comments, it is great to hear what other people are thinking and what questions they have. So I found a US government website (so I trust the information enough) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about radiation. It mostly talks about exposure to large amounts of radiation at one time, but not about prolonged exposure to radiation. Here's a report about research on radio waves with links to reports and it talks about exposure limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). It is all interesting stuff, they say that research shows when exposure is within the ICNIRP limits human health is not compromised. Here's where you can read about the guidelines. So I guess as long as a cell phone or a bluetooth doesn't go above those limits you will be ok? I dont' know, exposure for a long period of time at low levels might be just as bad to exposure at high levels.

Ok, back to the Bluetooth info. Once again I went to Google to search out some info. I simply searched Bluetooth cancer. I found an older news story about the FDA going to revisit the cell phone and cancer issue and some info about cell phone safety and the Bluetooth. I also found a blog by Dr. Aurelie Laurence, who is a Certified Quantum Biofeedback Specialist. Not sure what that is, but looking into it I found it has something to do with your body’s energy. This person evidently believes that cell phones are dangerous.

Looking more I found some forums where people had asked a similar question to mine about the cell phone and considering the Bluetooth as an alternative. Here’s what I found:
Mobile-Review
Yahoo Answers

I guess some people think the whole cell phone and cancer thing is hokey while others think there is some credit to it all. Wow, some people have strong opinions about this. They also provide links out to things they have seen and read. That can be helpful as long as the links still work. I guess things change quite a bit in the technological arena. Not all information stays up on the Internet. Isn’t there someone who archives the entire Internet? Wait, that’s a question for another post. Looks like there is still enough back and forth on the health issues and benefits for cell phones and Bluetooth, that I can’t say that either one is truly good or bad.
There are some companies, like the ones who made the cell phone popcorn video, who believe the Bluetooth has benefits.
CNET Reviews
Bluetooth Cell Phones
Radio Shack

And of course, I couldn’t help myself from looking at Wikipedia for some reading and possible leads.
Mobile phone impacts
Looks like Verizon has done some looking at what the company can do to make the phones better for your health. But this article doesn't say much about that work, just mentions it.
Bluetooth
This article talks some about companies that use bluetooth (Apple and Microsoft). It will be interesting to see if bluetooth becomes more important to companies.

Searching the Internet

So what I thought was interesting about the CNN video on the cell phone popcorn was this idea of danger with cell phones. Of course my original question to answer has to do with physical danger and cell phones, but the news release got me thinking more about the type of danger there could be.

Here’s what I found on Google about cell phones and cancer (search terms: cell phone cancer). There’s a guy, a Dr. Ronald Herberman, at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute who thinks cell phone use should be limited because his data shows some risks. Article about his work.

But evidently most people are not worried cause other studies don’t show any risks. Geez, who do you believe anyway? I guess the National Cancer Institute says more studies should be conducted. Here's their information. They do talk about radio frequency, but say that it is something that is changing with cell phones and needs to be studied more. Can I say microwaves and radiation? But that's another question to be answered.

This reports that there is a possible link to cancer and cell phone use, but one thing caught my eye while reading this story. It talked about who was funding the studies. Wow, I’ve never even thought about something like that. So, is research pulled in a certain direction for the group that funds it? That is messed up if it reported that way. Looks like cellular phone companies are funding some of the research. Oh man, I guess they wouldn’t want anything bad to show up, which puts them out of business.

Another article talks about another group of researchers at the University of Washington who went through a media frenzy when they suggested cell phones emit these radio waves that can cause enough DNA damage to brain cells.

Yikes, that’s what I’m worried about. They also mention Dr. Herberman from the Pittsburgh Cancer center, and interestingly they say “that if you subtract from the literature all of the industry-funded scientific studies, most research shows evidence of health effects from cell phone use.” Hmmmm, I’m thinking I need to find some of this literature and read it for myself.

One more thing I noticed as I looked at these news reports, is the dates they were made. Looks like I’m not the only one asking this question right now. These were all done in the last year. Here are two more reports, one asking for more research to be done and the other suggesting there is a link. I wonder who funded that one?

Now where should I look? I’ve actually been thinking it's time to look into the Bluetooth. Perhaps it will be a better alternative. If it shakes out to be better, that's all the justification I need. That would be totally cool!

Cell phone popcorn!

I have a problem. I want to buy a bluetooth for my cell phone, but I am trying to justify the need for it. As I have been thinking this over and looking around on the Internet for the best kind I ran into something that got me thinking even more. So let me share a video that everyone needs to see. It totally freaked me out at first! Check out cell phone popcorn.

Can you believe that? It seemed totally crazy to me, but still for some reason somewhat believable. So I decided to find out a little bit more. I don’t want cancer in my brain or something weird because of my phone. Even more reason to have a bluetooth! Being curious and nervous at the same time, here’s what I did to find out some more information. Also, immediately after watching it I had this question: What kind of physical risk is there when I use and carry my phone?

I continued my search for an answer on YouTube watching some videos associated with the popcorn one. Here’s what I found. This is a recreation of the original cell phone popcorn.

With a group not being able to recreate the popcorn, I went searching on snopes.com to see what it had to say. Of course, this is totally not true. Here's the full snopes story.

But, I wanted to find something that told me more about what this company was doing and I found a CNN video on YouTube explaining the original video.

Yeah, so you can’t trust some stuff on the internet. Ok, so some company has a marketing group that thinks they are pretty clever. Big deal! But, there was something in the CNN video that sparked my interest. I’m going to go out and do some more searching, cause I still don’t think my question has been answered. I’ll post what I find and where I found it.