New Cell Phone Radiation Study!

Despite numerous studies showing no links between cell phones and brain tumors or cancer, the fears swirling around concerning the possible dangers of prolonged cell phone use persist.  Now, a new study indicates that cell phone radiation boosts brain activity, which is sure to fuel the fire.

According to abc.com, "researchers used PET scans to measure brain activity in 47 participants when they had cell phones held to their ears in both off and on but muted positions and found that exposure to an in-use cell phone for more than 50 minutes increased brain activity by about 7 percent in the regions closes to the antenna. Whereas past studies have looked at cerebral blood flow to measure changes in brain activity, this study measured the brain's consumption of glucose -- the fuel of the brain -- in order to measure localized activity near the antenna."  Therefore, it is now known that the brain is sensitive to the very weak electromagnetic waves produced through cell phone radiation. 

However, sensitivity doesn't necessarily mean harm or an increased risk of cancer, and "it may even turn out that the ability of this radiation to boost brain activity could have therapeutic effects. Further study is needed, however, to explore the potential detrimental or beneficial effects of such an increase in activity", according to the lead author on the study, Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Although the research on the effects of cell phone radiation has been uncertain and inconclusive, the findings reheat the debate about cell phone concerns and make it impossible to ignore that prolonged use over many years might have some kind of effect on the brain.

I feel that this study is, in its own right, a breakthrough in the cell phone radiation research department because most other studies were rather inconclusive.  At least this study shows that there is a connection between the electromagnetic waves and cell phone radiation.  Do I believe that cell phones have an effect on the brain?  Yes, but who am I to make those kind of judgments?

The research in this field will continue relentlessly, I am sure.  If not because it is important to our technologically savvy society, then because the debate is fueled so vigorously by interested cell phone "addicts."  I expect more results to surface relatively quickly after this groundbreaking evidence has been released.  Look for more on this topic!