Cell Phones Causing Cancer?

As if parents’ concern about their children wasting time chatting and texting on mobile phones was not enough, there is another trepidation – the risk of developing cancer from cell phone use.

The cancer-cell phone link has been long suspected; it was jostled last week by the head of a prominent cancer research institute who warned his faculty and staff to limit cell phone use as it carries a potential cancer risk, especially in children.

Although, there is no scientific evidence yet to prove the cancer-causing potential of cell phones, Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute strongly recommended 3,000 faculty members to reduce exposure to the electromagnetic fields of mobiles. Children should be especially protected, because their brains are still developing.

Herberman’s warning was based on early, unpublished data but he insisted that waiting for a definite study to show a clear connection between cell phones and cancer is not the solution.

We must be vigilant pending a clear cancer-cell phone connection is recognized. Herberman urged his audience to take precautions until problems related to using the mobile phones start showing consequences on their health.

“We shouldn’t wait for a definite study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” he said.

After being cautioned by Herberman, parents have found just another reason to resist the youngsters’ entreaties and many are considering seizing the cell phones of their growing children.

"Now we hear about this possible medical risk," says Marybeth Hicks, an author, columnist and mother of four. "I couldn't possibly know if it's real or not. But I know that it's probably not necessary for most children to have a cell phone."

However, there is another side of the cell phones too. Mobiles are an easy way for parents to keep a tab on adolescents and some parents feel they are an essential security tool for their kids. "I always know where my kids are. A cell phone is a tool to negotiate the world once you have the responsibility to be out in the world on your own," said Hicks.

According to Frank Barnes, a professor who chaired a recent report on the subject, said children should be given cell phones only if there is a descent reason for them to have them. However, he added, "they've probably got other things they should be doing."