Sera Cole Cole-1

Science, 8A
Ms. Howe
September 15, 2014
The Supposed Apocalypse: Is Cell Phone Radiation Dangerous?
There are plenty of movies out there about how technology becomes conscious and kills
the entire human race, but what if it doesnt need to become conscious first? There are new
studies out there about how the radiation phones emit are actually causing harm to some people.
Many people are on their phones constantly and this is believed to be a factor of it. So, is the
heightened exposure to the energy cell phones emit harming people? Contact to cell phones
exposes humans to electromagnetic radiation that is not dangerous, although some scientists
would argue otherwise.
Cell phones use electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation comes from the
motion of atoms. Atoms with an electrical charge move in such a way that they are described as
waves. Waves and wavelength help us categorize the different types of radiation. In order of
longest wavelength to shortest the subcategories are radio waves, infrared rays, microwaves,
visible light rays, ultraviolet rays, X- rays, and gamma rays. Radiation with a longer wavelength
is less dangerous and has less energy (Doc A).
The increase in exposure to cell phones is not causing a decrease in human health. They
use radio waves which is considered non- ionizing because of its long wavelength. Non-
ionizing radiation is typically safe. It causes some heating effect but usually not enough to cause
any type long- term damage to tissue (Doc D). Also, the Federal Communications Commission

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(FCC) has guidelines regarding the radiation in phones. Phones should not exceed 1.6 watts per
kilogram which is then averaged over a gram of tissue. This is done before phones are placed on
the market to ensure the consumers safety (Doc E). Because the radiation of cell phones is
monitored to a point where it is considered safe and radio waves are typically considered safe,
cell phones are not affecting human health in a negative way.
Despite other evidence, scientists believe that because phones are being held near a
person's head for extended periods of time, that radio waves are being absorbed into the brain
(Doc C). However, the problem is, the continuous use of cell phones is not spent talking into it.
Many phones are becoming smart, they are allowing people to surf the internet, watch videos, or
listen to music. Therefore, they are not being held near the head for much more time than they
were previously and any new exposure should not harm anybody.
Despite extended hours of usage, cell phones are not a danger to the public. The waves
they use may affect humans, but at least not in a terrible way. Cell phones may continue to
progress, and, as they do, it is important to watch all of their impacts on the world. For now,
though, the waves they emit are safe.