The debates over mobile phones being a cause of cancer seems never ending. File photoRadiation from mobile phones and mobile towers is a hotly discussed topic today. These concerns are natural when mobile technology extends to all corners of the world.
Mobile radiation is accused of causing cancer. The high incidence of the disease in Kerala adds to the concern.
Part of the problem arises from the use of the word ‘radiation’. What we call radiation is an electro-magnetic spectrum. It is just energy transmission. Radiating mobile phones and mobile towers are something like ‘The Girl Who Spreads Light’ (Prakasham Parathunna Penkutti), a story by Malayalam author T. Padmanabhan. The girl is transmitting her energy. She doesn’t cause radiation. So are the mobile phones.
Electro-magnetic spectrum has two types of radiation on either end. On the right side is the ionizing radiation represented by X-ray, gamma ray and nuclear reactors. They are dangerous. Non-ionizing radiation on the left side of the spectrum is not harmful.
Radiation has become a double-edged word, like drug. When someone is said to be taking drugs, it suggests to some people that he is into substance abuse even if he is simply put on medication.
Instances of non-ionizing radiation are all around us. Solar radiation is the most obvious example. When you travel on a train there is radiation around us. The microwave oven in your kitchen has radiation. Mobile phone and wi-fi have radiation. All these are harmless.
Then what is ionizing radiation? Ionizing is to make into ion. For a better understanding, let us look at the structure of the atom: neutron and proton at the centre and electron revolving around them. Protons are positive-charged and electrons and negative. Neutrons are neutral. When electrons are removed, the atoms turn positive. This process is called ionization. Ionized atom is like a bull in a china shop. It collides with the nucleus of a cell and destroys its DNA.
Non-ionizing radiation does not have the capability to strike off an electron from an atom or to destroy the DNA mechanism. Microwaves and mobile phones cause non-ionizing radiation. If food is placed in a microwave, the waves heat its water content. Only heat is produced.
No study or research about cancer has proved that non-ionizing radiation causes cancer. There is a campaign doing the rounds that the use of mobile phones or the proximity to mobile phone towers can cause cancer. Proponents of the theory question arguments in favour of the safety of mobiles. How can you be so sure about it since cancer develops in the body in 20 or 30 years, they ask. Mobile phones have been around for only 20 years.
But there have been many studies conducted in animals. They have been exposed to wi-fi and microwaves. None of these researches have proved that non-ionizing radiation causes cancer. In other words, non-ionizing radiation is proved to be harmless.
If you speak on mobile phone for a long time, it generates heat. Though the heat does not damage DNA’s structure it could affect other proteins. Research should go on in this aspect. Whatever the case may be, it is not advisable to speak on mobile phone for hours.
The World Health Organisation is conducting many studies on this. A report scheduled to be published in 2016 may bring some clarity on this matter.
There are groups lobbying for the sale of equipment that they say protect against non-ionizing radiation. That is a huge business nowadays. These devices are on the market for $500 to $700. They are out to scare people into buying their products in the name of radiation and cancer.
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