Cellphone/Microwave Radiation Cannot Cause Cancer

[VoloAccendo]

Microwave is a broad classification for electromagnetic spectrum falling in the range of 0.3 - 300 GHz.

The microwave range includes ultra-high frequency (UHF) (0.3–3 GHz), super high frequency (SHF) (3–30 GHz), and extremely high frequency (EHF) (30–300 GHz) signals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave

Consequently, cellphones operate on the low end of the microwave band range.
900MHz (0.9 GHZ), 1800MHz (1.8 GHz) and 2100MHz (2.1 GHz).
http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/information/jargon_buster.htm

Stated simply, microwave electormagnetic radiation doesn't carry enough energy to split a gene (create an oncogene), which is how cancer is caused.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncogene

The radiation produced by a microwave oven is non-ionizing. As such, it does not have the specific cancer risks associated with ionizing radiation such as X-rays, ultraviolet light, and high-energy particles. Any health problems would result from electric currents induced in the body, most prominently cataract formation. Long-term rodent studies to assess cancer risk have so far failed to clearly identify any carcinogenicity from 2.45 GHz microwave radiation at chronic (large fraction of life span) exposure levels, far larger than humans are likely to encounter even from leaking ovens.[5][6]

To put the radiation hazard into perspective, the formation of carcinogenic char in conventional frying pan or oven needs to be taken into account (see above). The carcinogens in char are toxicated into carcinogens that are radiomimetic (i.e. cause damage similar to ionizing radiation). Microwaving instead of frying or cooking in the oven eliminates this danger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven

Notice that microwaves are non-ionizing.  Ionizing radiation includes energized particles (i.e. from radioactive decay of higher elements like uranium) and electromagnetic radiation of wave lengths UV and smaller (i.e. UV, X-Rays and Gamma Rays).  In fact, visible light (i.e. the night lamp next to your bed) emits more energetic radiation then a cellphone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionizing_radiation

Also note that intensity is not a factor, which means holding a cellphone against your head will not increase the chances that a microwave will split a gene, and cause cancer.  An analogy would be one person trying to throw a stone across the Atlantic Ocean versus a million people trying to throw a stone across the Atlantic Ocean, it's just not going to happen.  BUT, that's not to say that an intense microwave stream couldn't cook flesh, which is an obvious health concern.

Thus, the only health concerns with cellphones, as I see it, are:

When a cellphone is held against your head is the intensity high enough to cook flesh? 

and

Do cellphone induce an electric current in the body strong enough to lead to conditions such as cataracts?

This leaves us with the possibility that cellphone radiation may cook brain matter and lead to non-cancerous lessions, which isn't harmless by any strech of the imagination.

Also note, some people love showing what happens to an egg when it is held between two cellphones for a long duration (i.e. it is cooked).  BUT, this is unconvincing (for me) because the human body has circulating blood that moderates the heat of flesh, especially in the brain.  Also note, that you greatly reduce your risk of cooking your brain by using a non-wireless headset, because the intensity of any electromagnetic transmission (other then a laser) reduces in intesity by an amount inversely proportional to the cube of the distance from the transmission point.  This is because electromagnetic radiation propagates out as a sphere (imagine a light bulb).

Concluding, if the debate on the health effects of cellphone radiation is to remain truthful it has to focus on the problems caused by cellphone radiation intensity and induced bodily current (most likely a factor of intensity), which doesn't include cancer production.

For overview on the electormagnetic spectrum, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum

[Cruise4]

"split a gene (create an oncogene), which is how cancer is caused"

So cell oxygen levels and sugar have zero to do with cancer do they? Another rubbish article for so many reasons I can't be bothered to go into them.

[VoloAccendo]

Who ever said anything about sugar and oxygen levels not playing a role in cancer!?

In fact, it is well known that anti-oxidants fight cancer. 

Oxidants or free radicals have valent electrons that interact with genetic material (if the valent electrons aren't consumed by anti-oxidants), and produce oncogenes.
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/antioxid.htm

Sugar levels are especially bad because they produce free radicals in the body as a bioproduct of the ATP process.
http://www.fightaging.org/archives/000994.php

As we all should know, a sugary diet full of empty calories (meaning lack of anti-oxidants) is one of the quickest ways to age ourselves and end up with cancer.

All this has nothing to do with electromagnetic radiation spliting genes...

[VoloAccendo]

My introduction to this forum was Cruise4, who appears to be one of these smug self proclaimed intellectuals that can shoot down a scientific discussion by simply scoffing at it.  I challenge him to disprove anything I have said here!

Let me reiterate my initial point:

A mutated gene or oncogene is the beginning stages of cancer.  Mutated genes/oncogenes can be created by a number of environmental factors (i.e. viruses, radiation, free radicals, etc…).  Microwave radiation does not possess the energy necessary to break the molecular bonds contained in a gene (there by creating a mutated oncogene), which is necessary for radiation to cause cancer.

You can take what I have stated and forward it on to any physics professor (including Stephen E. Jones) for verification.  I personal learned this tid-bit from the nobel laureate Carl Wieman, when I was working on a physics minor at the University of Colorado.

Drop him an email…
cwieman@jila.colorado.edu
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2001/wieman-autobio.html

[37]

We'll know for sure in twenty or thirty years.  Most people put the phone to the same ear repeatedly...in a long conversation they will switch ears.  One ear, though, is definitely getting a higher dose.  If instances of skin cancer go up for people's "dominate" ear, I would consider that a condemnation of the cell phone.  According to the FCC, though, Volo is correct...only high intensity electromagnetic radiation causes tissue damage and almost no cellular damage.  http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet56/oet56e4.pdf

At relatively low levels of exposure to RF radiation, i.e., field intensities lower than
those that would produce significant and measurable heating, the evidence for production of
harmful biological effects is ambiguous and unproven. Such effects have sometimes been
referred to as "non-thermal" effects. Several years ago publications began appearing in the
scientific literature, largely overseas, reporting the observation of a wide range of low-level
biological effects. However, in many of these cases further experimental research was unable
to reproduce these effects. Furthermore, there has been no determination that such effects
might indicate a human health hazard, particularly with regard to long-term exposure.

More recently, other scientific laboratories in North America, Europe and elsewhere
have reported certain biological effects after exposure of animals ("in vivo") and animal tissue
("in vitro") to relatively low levels of RF radiation. These reported effects have included
certain changes in the immune system, neurological effects, behavioral effects, evidence for a
link between microwave exposure and the action of certain drugs and compounds, a "calcium
efflux" effect in brain tissue (exposed under very specific conditions), and effects on DNA.

Some studies have also examined the possibility of a link between RF and microwave
exposure and cancer. Results to date have been inconclusive. While some experimental data
have suggested a possible link between exposure and tumor formation in animals exposed
under certain specific conditions, the results have not been independently replicated. In fact,
other studies have failed to find evidence for a causal link to cancer or any related condition.
Further research is underway in several laboratories to help resolve this question.

In general, while the possibility of "non-thermal" biological effects may exist, whether
or not such effects might indicate a human health hazard is not presently known. Further
research is needed to determine the generality of such effects and their possible relevance, if
any, to human health. In the meantime, standards-setting organizations and government
agencies continue to monitor the latest experimental findings to confirm their validity and
determine whether alterations in safety limits are needed in order to protect human health.


I don't know if the FCC is a reputable resource, but they are considered the authority on radiowaves and frequencies...in the US.