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Source- This post on Study on impact of mobile phone radiation on human body has been created based on the article “Do mobile phones cause cancer? New analysis debunks this myth” published in “Indian Express” on 7th September 2024.
Why in News?
A comprehensive review of 28 years of research shows no link between mobile phones or wireless technology and cancer risk. The radio waves they emit do not contain enough energy to damage the human body or DNA. The study was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in Environment International.
About the Study
1. The study reviewed over 5,000 studies, including 63 key studies from 22 countries. No evidence of increased brain cancer risk was found, even after 10+ years of mobile phone use or extensive call time.
2. Cancers studied included brain, pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukemia. None showed increased risk from mobile phone usage.
How Mobile Phones works
1. Mobile phones and wireless tech exchange signals using radiofrequency (RF) waves. This is a form of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.
2. It is a form of non-ionising radiation, and it does not have enough energy to damage body tissues or DNA.
3. Technologies like WiFi, 4G, 5G, and Bluetooth also use these non-ionising waves are safe for human health.
Note: Ionising radiation includes X-rays and UV rays which can damage DNA. It has been observed that exposure to natural elements, like sunlight on a cloudy day, exposes us to more DNA-damaging rays than mobile phones or wireless devices.
About Radiofrequency (RF) waves
1. Radiofrequency (RF) waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation that spans the frequency range from about 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
RF waves are non-ionizing, meaning they do not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules, making them generally safe for human exposure in regulated amounts.
2. RF waves have long wavelengths compared to other forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light or X-rays. RF waves can propagate through various mediums, including air, vacuum, and certain solid objects.
3. Depending on the frequency, RF waves can travel directly (line-of-sight), reflect off the ionosphere (skywave propagation), or bounce off the ground (groundwave propagation), making them versatile for different communication needs.
4. RF waves are the backbone of wireless communication, enabling technologies like mobile phones, satellite communication, and Bluetooth.
5. RF waves are used in medical treatments, including MRI machines and RF ablation.
6. RF waves are also crucial in radar systems, used for detecting objects like aircraft, ships, and weather patterns. In navigation systems like GPS, RF waves transmit data between satellites and receivers.
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