Is Your Cell Phone Giving You Brain Cancer? State Lawmakers Consider Warning Stickers

Posted on December 21, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Technology

It has long been suspected that holding a cell phone up to your ear exposes you to radio waves which may be linked to brain cancer. As many as 300 million Americans regularly use cell phones, meaning millions of people may be at increased risks of being stricken with deadly cancers from using the handy devices.

Now, lawmakers in Maine are poised to become the first in the nation to require cell phones to carry warning stickers to caution users of the possible risks of brain cancer. A Maine state legislator plans to introduce a new law in her state and a similar movement also is afoot in San Francisco.

Since the electromagnetic waves are emitted from cell phones in such low levels, it is generally believed that long-term, prolonged use of the devices is required to develop brain cancer. Cell phones have only been widely used in the United States for about the past 15 years, so it may be too early to see the real health consequences caused by the devices.

Also, the cell phone industry has been criticized by some for dragging its feet on research into the possible link between its products and brain cancer in cell phone users.

So, are we looking at a looming tidal wave of brain cancer victims linked to use of cell phones? Only time will tell.