The latest research on cell phones and cancer

Researchers at UC Berkeley recently conducted a comprehensive review of statistical findings from 46 different studies around the globe. They found that using a cell phone for more than 1,000 hours (about 17 minutes a day over a ten-year period) increased the risk of tumors by 60 percent.

That sounds scary, and yes, prolonged exposure to electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) is not good for you. A 60% increase of a small risk is still a small risk. Suppose there is a 1% chance of catching some disease, and some activity increases the risk by 100%. That sounds like a lot, but it only means the risk has increased from 1% to 2%. This is the difference between relative and absolute risk. Don’t get wrapped up in the #fearporn.

What does the “paragon of public health and safety” the Food and Drug Administration have to say about cell phone radiation? The FDA states the following:

“To date, there is no consistent or credible scientific evidence of health problems caused by the exposure to radiofrequency energy emitted by cell phones. The FDA’s doctors, scientists, and engineers continually monitor the scientific studies and public health data for evidence that radiofrequency energy from cell phones could cause adverse health effects. If a credible risk is detected, the FDA will work closely with other federal partners to…