Janice Matrix - Health Impact

Health Impact of Cell Phones, Microwaves, and Bluetooth ~ Janice Wong

Cell Phones ­ Contents

• Physic of cell phone • What type of radiation?

• Testing for radiation?

• How it affects humans?

• Is it a health risk?

• FAQ

Physic of Cell Phone •Cell phone are essentially radios •A city is divided into small cells (a base station that consists of a tower and radio equipment) •Cell phones have big ranges because it is able to switch cells as they (cell phone) move around

Physic of Cell Phone •A cell phone is a full­duplex device – meaning there is one frequency for talking and another frequency for listening. Therefore, both people on the call can talk at once •Similar to a radio, cell phone also have channels.

However, while radio has about 40 channels; cell phones, on the other hand, can communicate on over 1000 channels •Each channel can be used by one caller at a time

Ionizing Non­Ionizing

What type of radiation?

• All cell phones emits radio­frequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation • Within electromagnetic radiation, it can be divided into two types – Ionizing (high­frequency) – non­ionizing (low­frequency) • RF energy is a type of non­ionizing electromagnetic radiation • Cell phone frequencies are between 800 to 1200MHz (megahertz) • Therefore, cell phone produce low intensity frequencies

Testing for Radiation • Before the cell phone is released into the market, all models has to be tested for radiation to meet FCC standards • FCC is based on the overall heating effects of radio­ frequency energy • Radiation levels are tested based on the specific absorption rate (SAR) • SAR is a way of measuring the amount of radio­ frequency energy that is absorbed by the human body • In order for the cell phone to meet the standards, the phone's maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram

How it affects humans?

• • • • •

A cell phone's main source of RF energy is produced through its antenna For that reason, the closer the antenna is to the head, the greater a person's exposure to RF energy Some studies shows that energy produced by cell phones may affect the brain and other tissues in the head The main concern is whether there is a risk of brain tumor (cancer) Researchers have mainly focused on whether RF energy can cause cancerous brain tumors or benign (noncancerous) tumors

Is it a health risk?

• For years, there have been debates on whether cell phones are actually a health hazard or just an urban myth Is there even a risk of brain tumor from cell phones?

• For a while, studies have shown that there is no conclusive evidence that proves non­ionizing radiation emitted by cell phones is associated with cancer risk • Studies suggest that radiation from cell phones is too low to cause significant tissue heating or any health risk • Therefore, people are under the impression that radiation emitted from cell phones is harmless

Is it a health risk?

• However, an article titled: It’s official now: Radiation from your cell phone may be killing you (released on Jan 2, 2011 in the Daily News and Analysis) have verified by research and tests that cell phone radiation is affecting our health • These are some of the statistics from the article – Exposure to electromagnetic fields (cell phone and cell tower) can cause sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

– Cell phone frequencies can cause damage to the DNA of the body's cells.

– Excessive use of mobile phones (30 minutes per day for 10 years) increases the risk of brain cancer.

FAQ? What is the Electromagnetic spectrum?

• It is the frequency range of electromagnetic waves. RF energy from cell phones is classified under the microwave range in the electromagnetic spectrum Why is there concern that cell phones may be a heath risk?

• Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (RF), which is a form of radiation. It has been under study for many years for its effects on the human body • The number of cell phone users has increased rapidly over the years. Therefore, if there is health impact in using cell phones, it is important to be aware of the circumstances

FAQ? What determines how much RF energy a cell phone user experiences?

• The number and duration of calls • The cell phone traffic (how many people are using cell phones) • The distance from the nearest cellular base station • The size of the handset • Hands­free device Do children have a higher risk of developing cancer due to cell phone use than adults?

• Children are more vulnerable to cell phone radiation than adults.

The younger the child, the deeper the penetration of electromagnetic radiation because the children's skulls are thinner. (Stats show that there is 400% increase in the risk of brain cancer for teenagers using cell phones)

Google Doc Survey

Google Doc Survey Results

This survey proves that the cell phone radiation debate that has been going on for a long time is important because everyone I surveyed owns a cell phone (results from the 1 st column)

The results are pretty even. About half the people I surveyed are aware that cell phones emit radiation.

The results are not surprising. More than half of the people I surveyed use a cell phone more than once a day. This proves that if cell phone radiation affects our health, it is a big deal because of the amount of time people are using their cell phones.

Bluetooth ­ Contents

~ Cell phone headsets • Physic of bluetooth • What type of radiation?

• Testing for radiation • How it affects humans?

• Is it a health risk?

Physic of Bluetooth • It enable cell phones to transmit the audio from the phone to the headset, allowing the user to listen and speak without holding the phone and/or dealing with wire • It uses radio frequencies to communicate data (similar to cell phones) • Its signals are able to travel over a distance of 10 to 300 feet.

• Bluetooth connection is wireless and automatic, but it sends out weak radio signals • Bluetooth uses "spread­spectrum frequency hopping" to ensure that each device is on a different frequency and therefore they do not interfere with one another (similar to cell phones)

What type of radiation? ~ The type of radiation emitted from bluetooth are the same as cell phone (same category) • All bluetooths emits radio­frequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation • RF energy is a type of non­ionizing (low­ frequency) • Bluetooth frequencies are between 1 to 2.5 GHz (gigahertz) • Therefore, bluetooths produce low intensity frequencies

Testing for Radiation ~Bluetooth are tested the same way as cell phones: based on the specific absorption rate (SAR) • In order for the bluetooth to meet the standards, the maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram • Studies have shown that, in general, the SAR level emitted from bluetooth are considerably lower compared cell phones • A study from Queen's University in Belfast found that a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth generates an SAR of just 0.001 watts per kilogram

How it affects humans?

• Like cell phones, some worry that Bluetooth radiation may cause health problems because both emit radio waves • Some sensitive users to the waves complain of nausea, eyestrain, headaches and other bothersome symptoms associated with their exposure to bluetooth

Is it a health risk?

• The Bluetooth cell phone handset devices emits signals at about 1 milliwatt – which is extremely low (compared to some cell phones, which emit around 3 watts) • Therefore, it is not considered to be a health risk and there are no evidence in any long term effects from using bluetooth

X­ray ­ Contents •Physic of x­ray •What type of radiation?

•How it affects humans?

•Is it a health risk?

Physic of X­rays • A X­ray machine is essentially a camera • Instead of visible light (used in camera), it uses X­rays to expose the film • The “light” that the x­rays uses are electromagnetic waves • Compared to visible light, x­ray has a much shorter wavelength, which means it has a much higher frequency • X­Rays only show solid forms in the body – bones. This is because the bones are dense and absorb more X­rays then your skin does • This is why there is a white part on a x­ray film which show the bones in the body; the black parts are soft tissue, like organs, or liquid • Therefore, with x ray, doctors are able to see any irregular forms or growth within the body

What type of radiation?

• X­ray are classified under the ionizing radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum • X­rays are between ultraviolent rays and gamma rays • The frequency range from 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz (3 × 1016 Hz to 3 × 1019 Hz)

How it affects humans?

• • • • • • • •

Everyone believes that x­rays are considered to be dangerous and harmful to humans (whether it is dental or medical) However, reports have shown that a few x­rays are not harmful, only prolonged exposure A specific concern is whether x­rays causes cancer Studies have been tested and proven that diagnostic x­rays do not increase the risk of cancer (only chances if overexposure) Besides early cell deaths in the body by radiation from the x­ ray machine, there is no specific long term effects However, there is one risk with x­rays: Genetic damage to reproductive cells (Damage to an ovum in a woman or sperm cells  may result in deformed baby or a miscarriage) Therefore, pregnant women with their unborn baby are affected the most Since their cells are growing rapidly, unborn children are most sensitive to radiation

How it affects humans?

• Most of the risks that people are familiar with relating to x­rays are just from overexposure • Some long term effects are: – Erythema – Cataracts – Cancer

Is it a health risk?

• Therefore, x­rays are only considered a health risk if there is overexposure with radiation from the machine • Other than that, the risk is very minimal

Google Doc Survey

Google Doc Survey Results

Everyone I surveyed, with the exception of one person, has taken a x­ray before. Most people have at least received a dental x­ray if not more x­ray for other parts of their body.

This shows me that even though people have taken x­rays before and think there is a big risk, no one has side effects from the machine with the exception of one person. From the results, only 14% (1 person) actually had a side effect from the x­ray.

This proves that most people are under the impression that even one x­ray is harmful to their body. Around 71% think that x­rays can emit harmful radiation to the body. However, in reality only overexposure will have long term effects.

Summary Notes Cell Phone • Basically radios • A city is divided into small cells (a base station that consists of a tower and radio equipment) • Cell phones have big ranges because it is able to switch cells as they (cell phone) move around • full­duplex device – meaning there is one frequency for talking and another frequency for listening. Therefore, both people on the call can talk at once • cell phone also have channels. However, while radio has about 40 channels; cell phones, on the other hand, can communicate over 1000 channels • debates on whether cell phones are actually a health hazard or just an urban myth a risk of brain tumor from cell phones?

• No conclusive evidence that proves non­ionizing radiation emitted by cell phones is associated with cancer risk • Studies suggest that radiation from cell phones is too low to cause significant tissue heating or any health risk • For years, there have been debates on whether cell phones are actually a health hazard or just an urban myth Article: It’s official now: Radiation from your cell phone may be killing you Exposure to electromagnetic fields (cell phone and cell tower) can cause sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

– Cell phone frequencies can cause damage to the DNA of the body's cells.

– Excessive use of mobile phones (30 minutes per day for 10 years) increases the risk of brain cancer.

Summary Notes Bluetooth • It enable cell phones to transmit the audio from the phone to the headset, allowing the user to listen and speak without holding the phone and/or dealing with wire • It uses radio frequencies to communicate data (similar to cell phones) • Its signals are able to travel over a distance of 10 to 300 feet.

• Bluetooth connection is wireless and automatic, but it sends out weak radio signals • Bluetooth uses "spread­spectrum frequency hopping" to ensure that each device is on a different frequency and therefore they do not interfere with one another (similar to cell phones) Testing – same as cell phones • In order for the bluetooth to meet the standards, the maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram • A study from Queen's University in Belfast found that a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth generates an SAR of just 0.001 watts per kilogram Health risk?

• some worry that Bluetooth radiation may cause health problems because both emit radio waves • Some sensitive users to the waves complain of nausea, eyestrain, headaches and other bothersome symptoms associated with their exposure to bluetooth

Summary Notes X­rays • dental or medical • only prolonged exposure is harmful • concern is whether x­rays causes cancer diagnostic x­rays do not increase the risk of cancer (only chances if overexposure) • Studies have been tested and proven that diagnostic Besides early cell deaths in the body by radiation from the x­ray machine, there is no specific long term effects • • Genetic damage to reproductive cells (Damage to an ovum in a woman or sperm cells  may result in deformed baby or a miscarriage) • pregnant women (unborn baby), affected the most with their unborn baby are affected the most Type of radiation • ionizing radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum (between ultraviolent rays and gamma rays) • The frequency range from 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz (3 × 1016 Hz to 3 × 1019 Hz) • A X­ray machine is essentially a camera • Instead of visible light (used in camera), it uses X­rays to expose the film • The “light” that the x­rays uses are electromagnetic waves • Compared to visible light, x­ray has a much shorter wavelength, which means it has a much higher frequency • X­Rays only show solid forms in the body – bones. This is because the bones are dense and absorb more X­rays then your skin does • white part, bones in the body; • the black parts, soft tissue or liquid Therefore, with x ray, doctors are able to see any irregular forms or growth within the body

Work Cited • • • •

• • •

•

"03.04.07: The Physics of Cell Phones." Yale University. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2003/4/03.04.07.x.html>.

BlackBerry ­ Smartphones ­ New BlackBerry PlayBook & Tablet OS at BlackBerry.com. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://ca.blackberry.com/>.

"Cell Phones and Cancer Risk ­ National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information ­ National Cancer Institute. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones>.

"How Do Cell Phones Work: The Fundamentals Behind Cellular Communication Technology and How It Operates." Find Health, Education, Science & Technology Articles, Reviews, How­To and Tech Tips At Bright Hub ­ Apply To Be A Writer Today! Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/electrical/articles/3885.aspx>.

"HowStuffWorks "Cell Phone Frequencies"" HowStuffWorks ­ Learn How Everything Works! Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell­phone1.htm>.

"IPhone 4 ­ Video Calls, Multitasking, HD Video, and More." Apple. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.apple.com/iphone/>.

Majithia, Priya Adhyaru. "Its Official Now: Radiation from Your Cell Phone May Be Killing You ­ India ­ DNA." Mumbai ­ India ­ News ­ Sports ­ Entertainment ­ DNA. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_its­official­now­radiation­from­your­cell­phone­may­be­ killing­you_1489258>.

West, Larry. "Cell Phones ­ Are Cell Phones and Microwave Radiation Really Unhealthy?"

Environmental Issues ­ News and Information about the Environment. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://environment.about.com/od/environment/a/cell_phones.htm>.