# Cellular telephones....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859 "2000-06-28T13:31:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fishead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@fishead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishead)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/1 "2000-06-28T13:31:33Z")

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I did a search on the database and on the Message board about this. Nothing turned up. So, what is the latest news on cell phones causing brain tumors, cancer, etc? Is this true or yet another case of hysteria?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/2 "2000-06-28T14:19:36Z")

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Over the last 15+ years there have been a few studies that purported to show a statistically significant connection between (you choose ailment) and cellular telephone use. Upon further investigation and/or peer review it was found that either the studies were poorly done, the methodology dubious, the result taken out of context or etc etc etc and the claimed association vanished.

There may be a study(ies) that are currently making this assertion but based on the track record of like-kind studies the conclusion had better be bulletproof.

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**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/3 "2000-06-28T14:46:11Z")

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Go to [http://www.motorola.com](http://www.motorola.com) - do a search. It will give you oodles of info.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/4 "2000-06-28T14:49:23Z")

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Yeah, like Motorola would give you an impartial information.

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**Author:** ![ATTGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@ATTGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ATTGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/5 "2000-06-28T16:20:34Z")

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The Washington Post recently published an article regarding possible health risks associated with wireless phone usage. I don’t have the date, but here’s a bit of the article:

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> 
> At the present time, the consensus among the worldwide scientific community and expert agencies is that there is no known health risk associated with exposure to low power wireless phone signals.
> 
> All cellular and PCS phones sold in the U.S. operate at less than one watt and must comply with strict radio frequency exposure standards established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in consensus with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOSH).
> 
> If people want to further limit their exposure to the low power radio signal as a matter of personal preference, the phone can be moved away from the ear by using an earpiece or hands-free device. We do not recommend antenna shields that may interfere with the phone’s ability to maintain contact with the radio system.
> 
> \*\*

There are more and more studies being conducted by universities and independant labs, most of which conclude that there is is little cause for concern. If anyone is interested, I can post a big list doctors that are currently doing research on this subject, and some of their conclusions.

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**Author:** ![Piig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Piig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piig)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/6 "2000-06-28T16:26:35Z")

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its not the phones that fry your brain, its the staff that the networks employ at the customer services dept that really screw my head up.

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**Author:** ![JoeyBlades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellular-telephones/23859/7 "2000-06-28T21:46:20Z")

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handy:

> [@](#):
>
> Yeah, like Motorola would give you an impartial information.

For those with paranoia, conspiracy theories, or just normal mistrust of large self-serving corporations, try these links instead:

[http://www.radres.org/toc99.htm#may99](http://www.radres.org/toc99.htm#may99)

[http://www.fei.org.uk/fei/issues/mobile/moulder.html](http://www.fei.org.uk/fei/issues/mobile/moulder.html)

[http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ocd/mobilphone.html](http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ocd/mobilphone.html)

[http://www.mcw.edu/gcrc/cop/cell-phone-health-FAQ/toc.html#15G](http://www.mcw.edu/gcrc/cop/cell-phone-health-FAQ/toc.html#15G)  
From that last link:

> [@](#):
>
> In a study published in early 2000, Morgan and colleagues studied all major causes of mortality (with emphasis on brain cancer, lymphoma and leukemia) in employees of Motorola, a manufacturer of wireless communication products. Based on job titles, workers were classified into high, moderate, low, and background RF exposure groups. For workers with moderate or high RFR exposure no elevation in  
> rates of brain cancer, leukemia and lymphoma were found. Actual peak and/or average RFR exposure levels are not known.

See, you really can trust Motorola… They use their own employees as guinea pigs to insure the safety of their customers…
