The Negative Impacts of Cell Phone use on Peoples Health

The rapid innovations in the field of technology in the developing of cell phones has lead to
an increasing number of people using mobile devices. According to Rand (2011) there are 5.3
billion people who use mobile phones worldwide. This fact has led to some concerns about
its effects on peoples health since they emit radio frequency energy when sending
information. Some people consider that the energy can negatively influence peoples health
while others believe that the amount of energy emitted from cell phone cannot adversely
affect peoples body as some telecommunication organizations has made regulation about the
level of power density of mobile phone signal so it cannot damage people health. However,
there is no convincing argument with the best evidence to support both arguments. Therefore,
although some people say electromagnetic radiation from cell phones is not harmful for
humans, it still could damage peoples health since it could cause male infertility, pregnancy
problems and trigger brain cancers.

The most concerning impact of the excessive use of cell phones is in the development of male
infertility. However, Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) from cell phone could not adversely
affect sperm parameters, that can lead to male infertility since some guidelines have been
made by telecommunication organizations to keep humans safe regarding the radiation
(Agarwal et al., 2009 ; Fejes et al., 2005&Lin, 2003). To give an example, those organizations
have released specific absorption rate (SAR) which varies from 1.6 to 2 Watt per kilo gram to
limit the power density of cell phone and they also have determined the distance between
people and phone antenna which should be 2.5 cm (Agarwal et al.,2009). In practice,
however, the amount of energy emitted by cell phone is varied in accordance with the
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distance between users and transmitter. If users are far from transmitter, the energy is high
which could be harmful for them as it could exceed the maximum power density
(Babycentre, 2010). Moreover, males reproduction system are easy to be exposed by radio
frequency as they are accustomed to put their mobile phones on their pants pocket while they
are talking by using hand-free devices or the phones are set in talk mode to (Agarwal, 2007 &
Mann, 2008). Furthermore, According to Philips (2011) globally, a half of sperm counts in
males have fallen over a 50 year period and it occurs continuously. In addition, he contends
that about 45% of males are sub-fertile and 7% of them are effectively infertile. Moreover,
Deepinder, Makker and Agarwal (2007) contend that there is a connection between male
infertility and cell phone use as they found in their study that the quality of spermatozoa such
as the motility, the number of sperms, morphology and viability from 361 men, attending
their infertility clinic, have been reduced and it could cause infertility to males. Therefore, it
can be considered that cell phone use could cause male infertility. This is because males have
bad behaviours in using those devices. Although there are some guidelines to keep humans
safe, they still ignore it. In addition, the quality of spermatozoa of men has reduced almost
45%.

Another point to consider as the adverse effects of cell phone use is pregnancy issues.
However, Thomson, (2012) claims that it may not be true that radiation from mobile phones
could negatively influence unborn babies of pregnant women since the argument is only
based on some research using mice to prove it, whereas pregnant women who are not easily
exposed tothe high levels of radiation as given to mice in the experiment. Moreover, Taylor as
cited in Thomson (2012) states that people have different genus from mice so they may have
different reaction toward energy of electromagnetic wave emitted by cell phones.
Nonetheless, almost 13,000 children participating in a study in 2008 conducted to analyze the
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possibility of children suffering from difficulties with behaviours caused by exposure of

mobile phones while they are in womb, finding that 80 percent of them are likely to have that
kind of problems (Mercola, 2012). In addition, it is clear that children exposed by Radio
Frequency from cell phone could have behavioral difficulties (Aldal, 2012). Moreover,
according to Bannet (2011) Electromagnetic Field is very harmful for pregnant women as it
could cause damage to their uterus because in the first two weeks of pregnancy embryo is
shaped by a small number of cells which are easy to be broken so the embryo can die even
before a pregnant woman realizes that she is pregnant. Furthermore, Rosa (2010) maintains
that learning disabilities could occur to children who are exposed to Electromagnetic
Radiation while they are in the uterus. In addition, Mercola (2012) argues that unborn babies
are the most vulnerable population to be exposed to the radiation. In the light of those
academic arguments, it seems that radiation of cellular phones has negative impact on
pregnant women. Even though some researchers argue that results of some studies are still
vague as it used animal as sample, it has been proved that energy emitted by cell phone is
very unsafe for pregnant women.

Despite the fact that excessive cell phone use has negative impacts on male infertility and
pregnant women, it may also be considered as a trigger of brain cancers. However Inskrip et
al, (2001) state that cell phone cannot generate tumors because according to their research in
1990s proved that there is no indication on people using mobile phone on their daily basis
such as 60 or more minutes for more than five years to experience cancer. In addition, they
maintain that tumors rarely occur on the part of the head where the mobile phone is routinely
used. For example, their study proves that an ipsilateral brain tumor could be experienced by
those using cell phones for more than ten years (Khurana, Teo, Kundi, Hardell, & Carlberg,
2009). Nonetheless, Seguin, (2009) argue that the effects of electromagnetic radiation was
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possible because it has been analysed for more than a decade and shows that people tend to
hold the phone close to the ears so the electromagnetic field is easy to enter to the brain.
Moreover, Radiation of radio frequency are categorized as possibly carcinogenic because
they could increase risk for glioma, a type of malignant brain cancer linked to mobile phone
use (The World Health Organization, 2011). In addition, based on 33 epidemiologic studies,
there was some proof about an increased risk of tumors on the brain (Kundi, 2013). In the
light of those arguments, it seems that cell phones could also generate brain cancer. This is
because of the bad habit of people in using mobile phones. As a result, the electromagnetic
energy from cell phone could enter human brain straightforwardly.

In conclusion, this essay has highlighted the detrimental effects of cell phone use on peoples
health in terms of male infertility, pregnancy and also brain cancers. Although there are some
regulation about the level of energy emitted by cell phones, people still have the possibility to
be negatively influenced by the radiation. Electromagnetic radiations could cause infertility
as they could diminish the quality of spermatozoa. Also, cellular phones could also adversely
affect women uterus during pregnancy. Moreover, it can also be considered as a trigger for
brain cancers. Furthermore, there is no strong evidence to prove that cell phones are safe for
people. For those reasons, further research in this field of study is still required to find strong
evidence so that people can use mobile phones safely. In addition, to avoid the negative
impacts of cell phone use, people should follow the guidelines to keep their body safe. For
instance, keep cell phone away from body when it is in the standby mode, only make short
calls using cell phones and using it if signal reception is strong (NHS Choices, 2012).

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References
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