Mobile phone radiation more harmful to rural area folks?
By ShockExcite Media Sdn Bhd
Hello ShockExciterz!
Another article again relating to the last topic we posted "Are mobile phone radiation dangerous...or not? what's the verdict?", yes, mobile phones dangerous or not epic is that now researchers from UK are claiming that mobile users in rural areas are at a much higher risk of brain cancer than their urban-dwelling counterparts.
It is learned that in areas of lower reception, the radiation level is increased in efforts to make up for poor signals, resulting in a three-fold increase in brain tumor diagnosis for those in rural areas. Of course, the sample size was too small and not geographically spread out enough (1400 Swedes), so the chairman of the House of Commons select committee on science and technology called for further research (surprise!) and then came to the next logical conclusion: until that research is done, mobile phones should be banned. Seems highly pragmatic to us. Good thing we've got some rational folks heading up these committees that legislate technology — they sure are looking out for us huh?
Rural mobile phone users could face eight times the risk of developing brain cancer than those living in urban areas, latest research into health risks revealed yesterday.
The alarming research echoes warnings made by a foremost radiation expert that users in areas with poor reception such as parts of rural East Anglia are more vulnerable because output has to be boosted to make a connection.
Accordingly children in rural areas would be even more at-risk as evidence has already suggested their still-developing brains are particularly susceptible to the health hazards associated with mobile phones.
And the study throws the phone mast debate into confusion as it appears to suggest more masts affording stronger reception are less of a danger than the increased radiation that makes up for poor signals from fewer stations.
People living in a rural area, who had been using a mobile digital phone for more than three years, were more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumour as those living in urban areas.
Usage for five years or more in a rural area quadrupled the risk compared to urban areas.
The researchers, led by Prof Lennart Hardell, noted that for malignant brain tumours the risk was eight times as high for those living in rural areas.
But they pointed out that the actual number they based the results on was very small and they should be interpreted with caution.
The researchers said: "Clearly our results support the notion that exposure may differ between geographical areas.
"However, these results refer to Sweden and there is no information on the exact difference between different geographical areas."
They added: "In future studies, place of residence should be considered in assessment of exposure to microwaves from cellular phones."
Dr Michael Clark, science spokesman at the Health Protection Agency, said the paper was interesting but that the results should be treated with caution as they relate to Sweden and the study was carried out on a small group.
He said: "Because of uncertainties in our knowledge about this widely-used technology, we have recommended a precautionary approach on the use of handsets.
"People, particularly children, should minimise their usage until research is properly evaluated over the next few years."
Well, what's your feel then? quoting all the expert reports of their findings, so what would affect the growth and expansion by our governments towards to rural areas, an advantage? or a potential threat? I guess the quality of life is put to test.
Let us know.
The ShockExcite Team
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