Senate Holds Hearings on Health Risks of Cell Phone Use (videos)

The US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health & Human Services began hearings to look more deeply into any potential connections between cell phone use and health problems, such as cancer. Sen Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the chair of the committee, said that he's "reminded of this nation's experience with cigarettes. Decades passed between the first warnings about smoking tobacco and the final definitive conclusion that cigarettes cause lung cancer." Sen Harkin became head of the U.S. Senate Health Committee after the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, whose fatal brain tumor was speculated to have been a result of his constant use of the cell phone.

Also members of the subcommittee is Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pennssylvania, who initiated the idea for the hearing, and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Health Risks (video)

In this video, Dr. Martin Blank, EMF researcher and co-author Of The Bioinitiative Report, presents findings that link electromagnetic radiation with health problems, particularly brain tumors and cancer. One study mentioned (Hardell et al, 2008) found a 10-year latency period whereby people who use a wireless phone (cell phone or cordless phone) for 10 years or more on the same side of the head have 2-3 times more likelihood of developing glioma. Particularly vulnerable are young people (<20 years old) who are found to have 5 times increased risk of developing the tumor.

Also interesting is the discrepancy in the results of studies between those sponsored by the wireless industry and those that are not. Industry-supported studies tend to lean towards results that show cell phone radiation has no effect (68% no effect vs. 32% effect). Whereas studies independent of industry support show the exact opposite (30% no effect vs. 70% effect).

The talk also covers the risk ratio for childhood cancers in relation to distance from a radiofrequency (RF) antenna, which shows high risk of cancer from antennas with power density below current safety standards.