Is cell phone radiation harmful to our children?

The world is on radiation and toxin overload and our children have become the most vulnerable victims. Childhood diabetes, autism and cancer caused by environmental factors and toxins are increasing at an alarming rate, and occurring at younger ages. Children are breathing, eating, drinking and absorbing a huge array of hazards from items including foods they to eat to cell phones.

According to EWG, from 1973 to 1996, childhood brain cancer increased by 26% and continues to rise specifically related to cell phone usage. This is a major problem as cell phone usage has exploded, going from one billion users in 2004 to over 4 billion users in 2007. Countries around the world are becoming alarmed at the rising incidence of parotid gland tumors as well as malignant and benign brain tumors – all occurring on the side of the head that the cell phone is most commonly used.

Radiation exposures are more potent for children than adults because of children's thinner skulls and their brains' higher water and ion (charged particle) content, all of these factors enhance radiation penetration. Also according to EWG, governments of Switzerland, Germany, France, Finland, Israel and U.K. as well as the European Parliament recommend limiting cell phone use for children, and encouraging children to keep phone calls short and send text messages instead of calling.

EWG’s tips to reduce radiation exposure:

• Buy a low-radiation phone - Check the EWG’s buyers guide for phones with less radiation

• Use a headset or speaker - Headsets emit much less radiation than phones, and using your phones speaker will also reduce radiation to the head

• Check your voice mail over speaking - Your phone does not emit radiation when you are receiving messages

• Hold phone away from your body - Hold your phone away from body when talking on headset, not against your ear, pocket or on belt. These are areas where soft body tissues absorb radiation

• Choose texting over talking - Phones use less radiation when testing rather than talking

• Limit children’s use - Children’s brains absorb twice the cell phone radiation as an adult.

• Pass on the “radiation shield” - Antenna caps and keyboard covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit with higher radiation