Women & Children more Exposed

Remember the "good old days" when making a business call away from the office meant searching for a pay phone at a gas station?  Remember when going out for an afternoon of shopping meant being as isolated as sun bathing on a tropical island?  Of course, this was also before the invention of the shopping mall and an afternoon out really meant many small trips from one place to another.  Remember, also, all of the missed contacts and opportunities in the world before the cell phone?

It was only a few short years ago; but it seems like eons since pocket pagers and portable cellular telephones first allowed each of us to maintain contacts with the world no matter where we went.  This evolution of wireless communication provides an opportunity for improved productivity and convenience never imagined.  This evolution may be as dramatic as was the invention of basic telephone communication in the last century.  It may even prove to be more significant than the invention of the internal combustion engine.

In spite of recurring fears related to health hazards and the portable phones, the demand and usage seems to continue unabated.  And while the scientific researchers are working out the details of where the danger areas lay, most users remain quietly confident that, as with use of other types of radiation, the communication industry will eventually mature to fully understand its real limitations in the safe use of radiofrequency radiation.  Remember, even the evolution of the automobile is marked with occasional safety and performance recalls; but that hasn't stop the progression of the technology.

Although the cellular industry is trying its best to learn the full scope of damaging effects of radiation exposures, it also readily acknowledges that it is too early to say the phones are safe.  Hopefully, continued research will answer some of these important questions.  One industry expert has projected that answers to some of the critical health questions will be available by 2005.

In the meanwhile, we may make good use of the scientific research that has already been provided.  One of the few areas for which the research data is already available relates the use of radiofrequency emitting devices to the variable size of the human head.

Since portable cellular telephones must emit radiofrequency radiation in order to operate, this research is of interest.  Researchers have been providing results that show that smaller human head models, those similar to children and smaller adults and most particularly women (as compared to fully-grown average sized males) will absorb a greater portion of the radiofrequency radiation deeply within the central portion of their heads.  That is, in the brain.

These researchers have determined that smaller head size actually results in an increase of radiation absorption.   These same researchers have determined that the small head size actually causes the radiofrequency energy to be deposited more deeply into the brain.  A radiation absorption "hot spot" is created within the brains of exposed humans of small physical stature.

Children, in particular, fall within the group that is susceptible to this "hot spot" radiation absorption.

In general, we might consider that all children under sixteen years of age would be included.

Manufacturers have already identified that about one half of the radiofrequency radiation is absorbed into the head along the side where the phone is positioned.  Deep within the brain, lies this second energy absorption location for those whose heads are susceptible.

But, before drawing any conclusions from the available research, let's recall that the cell phone industry reassures us that this absorption of radiofrequency radiation does not necessarily mean that any damaging health effects will follow and that the industry will continue to perform the research studies to confirm their beliefs.  Although the industry has identified a number of biological effects, which occur within the body of the user during operation of the phones, we have been reassured that the effects do not necessarily tie-in with any long-lasting health effects.

In the meantime, and in view of the existing research findings, it just might be a good idea to wait awhile before exposing your sons and daughters.  After all, don't we owe them at least that much care after protecting them from all of the other "unknowns" and dangers in today's world?  Maybe they don't need that sleek new portable phone for Christmas - at least not this year.  And maybe the little ones don't need to talk over your portable with grandma or daddy.