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Objectives and instructions for completing the evaluation can be found on page 69.
W
ith new technology,
there are typically risks Children are increasingly using cell phones. “Family package” deals make it easy
and benefits. Potential for parents to obtain phones for their children, and the phones provide parents
harm is often not real- with the comfort of easy access to their children. However, cell phones emit radio
ized until years later. At the end of frequency (RF) radiation (Bucher & the Committee on Appropriations, 2010).
While the government has deemed RF radiation to be safe, there is no current
2011, there were almost 6 billion
significant research to make this claim. To determine the relationship between
mobile subscriptions. That is a dra-
cell phone radiation and brain cancer requires long-term studies lasting decades
matic increase from 5.4 billion in and with inclusion of frequent users in the subject pool. Further, to extend the
2010 and 4.7 billion mobile subscrip- results of any study to children requires controlling for the differences between
tions in 2009 (International Tele- juveniles and adults regarding the composition of the head, and bone density
communications Union, 2011). Due and neural tissue. Dr. L. Hardell of the University Hospital of Sweden noted that
to its relatively short-term consumer “it is necessary to apply the precautionary principle in this situation,” especially
use, concerned citizens are still exam- for long-term exposure that is likely to affect children (Hardell as cited in Mead,
ining the consequences of its radio 2008, p. 1). There is cause for concern.
frequency (RF) (Walsh, 2010). Three
out of every four children under 12
years of age use a cell phone
(Fernandez, 2011). Health (NIH), as well as experts inter- higher rates of glucose consumption
Worldwide, many researchers have viewed by GAO, have reached similar than the rest of the brain (Volkow et
raised the issue of the possible harm conclusions about the scientific al., 2011).
considering the increased use and research. Ongoing research examining Increase in glucose metabolism is
cumulative effect of RF (Hardell, the health effects of RF energy expo- normal and occurs as various parts of
Carlberg, & Hansson, 2009). This is of sure is funded and supported by feder- the brain are activated during speak-
concern regarding children; because al agencies, international organiza- ing, thinking, or moving (amount
of their thinner skulls and developing tions, and the mobile phone industry. varies with activity). What is un-
brains, they may be more susceptible NIH is the only federal agency GAO known, however, is whether repeated
to cellular damage. Several countries interviewed that is directly funding spikes in activity due to exposure to
have issued warnings about cell studies in this area, but other agencies electromagnetic radiation from cell
phone use for children, but the support research under way by collab- phones can permanently alter brain
United States government has not. orating with NIH or other organiza- function or result in harm (Park,
According to the U.S. Government tions to conduct studies and identify 2011). In a Podcast interview, Dr.
Accountability Office (GAO), scientif- areas for additional research (GAO, Volkow states this study showed that
ic research has not demonstrated 2012). the human brain is indeed sensitive to
adverse human health effects of expo- Evidence to support the concern the electromagnetic radiation emitted
sure to RF energy from mobile phone from cell phones. Because the brain
about RF effects continues to emerge.
use, but research is ongoing that may uses glucose when it is activated, Dr.
A trial led by Dr. Nora Volkow,
increase understanding of any possi- Volkow interpreted this to mean elec-
Director of the National Institute on
ble effects. In addition, officials from tromagnetic waves in the brain were
Drug Abuse, raises further questions.
the Food and Drug Administration activating the cells. The conclusions
Forty-seven volunteers were asked to from the study state that while no
(FDA) and the National Institutes of undergo two position-emission tomo- harm was seen immediately, it further
graphy (PET) scans, which measures raises the question of possible damage
glucose consumption in the brain, an if the brain is stimulated over many
indication of how cells use energy. For years. Concern is raised in regard to
Suzanne Rosenberg, MS, RN, is an Assistant both 50-minute scans, the volunteers children and adolescents, whose
Professor, Health Sciences, LaGuardia Com- had a cell phone fixed to each ear. brains are still developing, with many
munity College, Long Island City, NY. During the first scan, the devices were neurological connections being formed.
Statements of Disclosure: The author turned off, but for the second scan, Potential effects this type of radiation
reported no actual or potential conflict of inter- the phone on the right ear was may have on the formation or the
est in relation to this continuing nursing edu- switched on and received a recorded deletion of these synaptic connections
cation activity. message call. The results of the second remains unknown; thus, cell phone
Additional statements of disclosure appear on scan showed that the regions of the use by children and adolescents is an
page 69. brain nearest the device’s antenna had area of concern (Volkow, 2011).
Figure 1.
Web Sites for Updated Information on Cell Phone Concerns
The National Cancer Institute and magnetic field components that different positions on the phone, and
(NCI), an agency of the National oscillate (move) as the energy travels. thus, would affect the area of the
Institutes of Health (NIH), claims The EMF spectrum, in order of increas- brain closest to the antenna. This
more studies are needed to determine ing frequency and decreasing wave- higher exposure is caused by differ-
the risk of long-term use of cell length, consists of radio frequency, ences in anatomical proportions. The
phones for children and adolescents. microwaves, infrared radiation, visible exposed regions inside the brain (test-
NCI indicates that results from studies light, ultraviolet radiation X-rays, and ed on children 3 years of age and 7
have been “inconsistent and have not gamma rays. RF is a slow, low-energy years of age) showed higher uptake in
addressed adequately many questions moving wave of EMF and is believed comparison to adults. Because of dif-
regarding cancer and other adverse to do little harm, unlike higher energy ferences in position (affected by the
health effects of cell phone use partic- X-rays, which are also part of the EMF anatomical proportions) with regard
ularly among children or heavy or spectrum. RF is non-ionizing; thus, to the ear and brain, regions close to
long-term users of cell phones” (NCI, not causing the breakup of ionic the surface can exhibit significant dif-
2010, p. 1). NIH is exploring this im- molecular bonds. The concern is that ferences in exposure in children
portant exposure and continues to in- wireless devices have increased in use (Christ, Goesselin, Christopoulus,
vest in research to further the under- in society, especially among children. Kuhn, & Kuster, 2010). The permissi-
standing of the potential health ef- RF standards set by the Federal ble SAR level is based on the amount
fects of cell phone use. Communications Commission (FCC) of absorption of a standard anthropo-
The American Cancer Society are set at levels too low to cause signif- morphic man who weighs more than
also expresses qualms. There is a lack icant heating of tissue. “Cell signals 200 pounds and has an 11-pound
of data on the risk to children, many are weak, invisible, and as fast as the head; the level is not tailored for per-
of whom start using cell phones early speed of light. This low power radio sons of smaller dimensions (Davis,
in life. The frequent use of cell phones frequency radiation cannot heat 2010). “These advances in our under-
by young children is of particular human tissue, so it is presumed to be standing have not had any impact on
concern because the RF waves from safe” (Davis, 20l0, p. 56). the way that cell phones are tested
cell phones reach more brain tissue in The amount of RF absorbed if the and rated” (Davis, 2010, p. 82).
children than in adults (due to thin- cell phone is in contact with the head Phone companies are required by
ner cranium). “It is important that is measured in terms of specific law to state the SAR on its packaging
these issues continue to be studied in absorption rate (SAR). The FCC has so RF exposure can be measured (Kohl
children, with longer term use, and determined it is safe to set phones at & Sachdev, 2009). The highest at-ear
through prospective studies” (Snowden, RF emissions up to l.6 watts per kilo- rating for voice calls for the Apple
2010, p. 1). gram of body tissue. SAR determina- iPhone 4TM, one of the most popular
tion combines information on signal phones available, is l.l7 watts per kilo-
strength and the type and amount of gram. The Apple iPhone 4 safety man-
Electromagnetic Fields, tissue exposed. The computation for ual states exposure should not exceed
Radio Frequency, and SAR includes how thick the tissue FCC guidelines. When using the
Specific Absorption Rates closest to the antenna is and how iPhone for voice call or for wireless
much the tissue weighs; its mass data transmission over a cellular net-
As cell phones make and take determines the absorption (Davis, work, Dellorto (2011) recommends
calls, they emit low levels of RF radia- 2010). However, these determinations keeping the phone at least 15 mil-
tion. Everyone is exposed to electro- were made based on adults. In a study limeters (5/8 inch) away from the
magnetic fields (EMFs) with cell of SAR exposure to children, results body. The FCC’s Web site (see Figure
phones or mobile devices and are also show the locally induced fields for 1) provides information regarding
described as radio frequency (RF), children can be significantly higher SAR of cell phones. Nurses can help
which is a waveform found in the EMF due to the close proximity of the consumers become aware of and use
spectrum. RF is one of several energy phone to these tissues in the area of this information when selecting cell
forms, all of which exhibit wave-like the head that is close to the antenna phones.
behavior but travel at different rates (Baan et al., 2011). Depending on the
through space. EMF has both electrical phone design, the antenna can be in