Hands-free answer to cellphone cancer threat

A report from the World Health Organization has revealed that the radiation transmitted by mobile phones can be potentially carcinogenic. What many phone users don’t realise is that there is a solution.

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO)/Interactional Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released last week has revealed that radiation transmitted by mobile phones is potentially carcinogenic, based on an increased risk for a malignant type of brain cancer associated with mobile phone use. What most consumers don’t realise is that there is solution to dramatically lower their potential exposure ‚ by making use of a hands-free device.

While a valid health concern, just as consumers aren’t going to stay indoors because they are afraid of sun damage, they won’t stop using cell phones due to fear of radiation. With over 40 million mobile phone users in South Africa, mobile phones have become a part of our daily routine for communicating with others and are here to stay. In a press release issued by the IARC* the agency further recommended reducing exposure through the use of headsets stating, ‚ Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings, it is important that additional research be conducted into the long‚Äêterm, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‚Äêfree devices or texting.”

Using a hands-free device can reduce the exposure to radiation by 800 times, drastically lowering the exposure from max 2 watts from mobile phones to 0.0025 watts max output for Bluetooth hands-free devices and zero watts for corded devices.

‚As our phones get smarter, so we need to get smarter on how we use them and thereby protect ourselves,‚ says Scott Corry, Business Unit Manager for Jabra at Kathea. ‚Consumers should be aware of potential radiation exposure from excessive mobile phone use, however, rather than feel threatened by this consumers should look to the market to find a solution that will assist them in mitigating their exposure ‚ like using a Bluetooth headset.‚

New survey results, sponsored by Jabra, a world leader in innovative hands-free solutions, show that despite the potential risk, 25% of respondents said that radiation exposure doesn’t concern them at all and 61% said that it concerns them a little. Remarkably, however, when informed that it is scientifically proven that using a Bluetooth headset actually reduces exposure to phone radiation, 53% of respondents said that they would use a hands-free device.

* Source: http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf

Survey Methodology

The results of the survey, underwritten by Jabra and conducted by Lindberg International, are based on responses from an online survey of 2,518 consumers between the ages of 18 and 55 with respondents in five countries – the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan. Respondents were asked about their awareness surrounding the concerns and reactions to radiation and cell phone usage and knowledge of the effects of using a hands-free device. The survey was conducted in April 2011. The margin of error is +/- 1.95%.

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