Be Smart with Your Smart Phone
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According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there are three main reasons to be concerned about cell phone use. First of all, cell phones release radio frequency energy. This is a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. This type of radiation can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held, which is of course the head. The second reason the NCI is concerned about cell phone use is because the number of users have skyrocketed just within this last decade. The International Telecommunications Union estimates the global subscription to cell phones is approximately five billion. The third and most concerning reason is that people are using their cell phones more frequently per day and the length per call has become longer. Based on these three reasons there is evidence of a true concern with a person�s health and the usage of cellphones.
Some people are so glued to their phones that they sleep with them under their pillow, on their head or next to their bed. This is a global habit and I believe that if people understood the danger of doing it, they would stop or at least modify their behavior. With the phone still on, it is pumping out electromagnetic radiation all night long, exposing themselves to unnecessary radiation the entire night. There are a few things a person can do. The phone can be put on �airplane mode.� This allows a person to still use the phone as an alarm, but it shuts off WiFi and data, meaning it shuts down the receivers that are putting off the electromagnetic radiation. If the cell phone is needed or wanted to be left on, then it should be placed around 6 feet away from the bed. The best way, but not the most popular is to charge the cell phone with it turned off. Therefore, if a cell phone is going to be on while a person is sleeping, take appropriate steps so electromagnetic radiation released is minimized.
With many cancer studies making a connection to cell phone use, there is another study indicating the opposite. In the United States, the main government run agency is known as the Center of Disease Control (CDC). It publicly states that there is no current study that can undoubtedly connect a cancer to cell phone use. It points out that there were other factors that could have played a role in acquiring the cancer other than the cell phone. For cell phone use to be undoubtedly connected to causing cancer, research needs to be more valid and controlled.
The CDC may be correct in their assessment of cancer/cell phone studies indicating that there may be a lack of validity, but I would tend to be cautious and not wait for the United States government-run agency to publicly announce that the radiation cell phones produce can cause cancer. Cell phones have become a part of our everyday use and follow us to bed. It doesn�t need to be dangerous for individuals if precautionary actions are taken. Either move the charger further away from the bed, put it on �air plane� mode or simply turn off the device when sleeping. Be smart with your �smart phone.�
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CONCLUSION
29 May 2014
Cellular devices have become part of everyday life, to the point that they are recharged next to beds making them a potential hazard to peoples health. When I first started researching the dangers of cellular devices, I was shocked to learn that there were so many negative affects with using and recharging them. It scares me that cancer is a potential side effect to using cell phones. I never knew until I started this blog that recharging a phone next to my head while I slept was a bad idea. I thought I was being responsible by using it as an alarm. Since starting this blog and learning the potential hazards, I have moved my phone recharger away form my bed. I hope that others that read my blog and didn't know of the potential dangers made appropriate changes too. I am glad we did this activity so my class could have an opportunity to be a positive citizen in the digital life.
I was pleased to see that I had many responses to my blog. They were just as uninformed as I was when I started the blog. All that responded, stated that they slept with their phones next to their beds and because of my blog they were going to move their charging stations. The post I received did not change my mind on the hazards of cellular devices, I informed them and they changed their minds. They were very appreciative of the research I had done. No one wants cancer. The responses from my peers made me think further than I had about cell phones and cancer. The post made me think about other hazards with the cell phones and I wanted more clarification on the hazards. I continued to research on the internet about cell phones and cancer, so I could further continue to educate myself and my friends. When I was able to find more information that I thought was important for people to know, I shared it on my blog to be a good citizen in the digital world. Post were very grateful for the information and didn't need persuasion to make changes with their phones.
This was my first time blogging. It was very scary to put something out into the digital world with my name on it that everyone could see and make commons. It made me do some research on cell phones that helped me and others that read my blog. I don't want cancer and if by moving my charging station away from my bed helps, then I'm going to move it. I am happy we did this activity for the information I learned. It also felt good knowing I was helping others through a blog by being a good digital citizen.
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