Science & Technology

New technique to help study cell phone risks

By T.K. Randall
January 4, 2013 ·  19 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu The subject of whether or not the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones pose a cancer risk has been the matter of great debate and controversy ever since mobiles first appeared on the market. Unlike x-rays, the signal from a mobile is very low level - too low, presumably, to penetrate and damage cells. This would seem to rule out a health concern, however if too much radiation is absorbed there could still be a risk.

To help find an answer to this, researchers have developed a new type of non-metallic antenna that will allow them to use an MRI scanner on someone using their phone without the difficulties posed by the metal antennae used inside conventional handsets. In time this should facilitate the development of a full 3D map of cell phone radiation so that we can see once and for all whether exposure on a daily basis is truly having a negative impact on our health.[!gad]The subject of whether or not the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones pose a cancer risk has been the matter of great debate and controversy ever since mobiles first appeared on the market. Unlike x-rays, the signal from a mobile is very low level - too low, presumably, to penetrate and damage cells. This would seem to rule out a health concern, however if too much radiation is absorbed there could still be a risk.

To help find an answer to this, researchers have developed a new type of non-metallic antenna that will allow them to use an MRI scanner on someone using their phone without the difficulties posed by the metal antennae used inside conventional handsets. In time this should facilitate the development of a full 3D map of cell phone radiation so that we can see once and for all whether exposure on a daily basis is truly having a negative impact on our health.

Source: Popular Science | Comments (19)

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