What are mobile phones? They are electronic telecommunication devices, often referred to as a cellular phone or cell phone that connect to a wireless communications network through radio wave or satellite transmissions. Most mobile phones provide voice communications, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), and Internet services such as Web browsing and e-mail.
The technology keeps advancing. The pixel phone by Google comes with one of the highest rated smartphone cameras in the world and a seamless glass-aluminum body. With smooth surfaces and easy-to-grip curved edges together with capacity to unlock quickly with Pixel imprint and swipe down on the fingerprint sensor for quick access to notifications, it provides a vivid, cinematic display. And then the V7+’S revolutionary display is another marvel that offers a groundbreaking visual experience. With an immersive screen and smaller bezels, it’s a work of art that feels great in the palm of your hand. The Xiaomi Mi A1, another recent addition, is the result of a joint effort between Xiaomi and Google, and the result is a pretty impressive phone with specs similar to the Xiaomi Mi 5X, but near-stock Android on the software front, coupled with a few Xiaomi touches such as the Mi Camera, Mi Remote, and Mi Store apps. In the Xiaomi Mi A1, the software implementation is really good, and the phone’s dual camera approach works well.
No matter what technological advances are being made public fears over the radiation emitted from cell phones have led to several theories about the health conditions this radiation might engender. So those who suspect that their phones may be “frying their brains” will not rest easy. Their fears would have certainly been aggravated by the “video that suggests that the waves from two cell phones could be used… to cook an egg!” Ugh! Too bad isn’t it? But not to worry! Research does not justify any undue scare.
One of the hazards that is being frequently harped on is the “risk of developing cancer” “Current scientific evidence doesn’t indicate any adverse health outcomes associated with exposure to radio frequency energy from cell phones,” US Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Peper Long told ABC News recently. Granted that there have been reports of negative health effects from low levels of radio frequency energy, these reports have not been replicated or confirmed. Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (radio waves), a form of non-ionizing radiation, from their antennas. Tissues nearest to the antenna can absorb this energy. For now, no one knows has proved that cell phones are capable of causing cancer. Although long-term studies are ongoing, there’s no convincing evidence that cell phone use adds to the risk of cancer. Let’s relax then!
Pregnant mothers are another group that is being targeted. Expectant mothers use it to talk, text, make doctor’s appointments, get directions to birth classes, research baby products and even jot down must-haves for the hospital bag. But does all that phone usage have an impact on the growing baby? Researchers have only recently begun to study the possible effects of radio waves from cell phones and other sources on fetuses, and their work was largely inconclusive. In fact, because no researcher would wittingly expose a human fetus to potential harm, it was difficult if not impossible to design a reliable study that could definitively link cell phone exposure to any health or behavioral problems. And to date, no study had shown an uncontested link between cell phone use and any adverse outcomes to fetal development in humans — which meant there’s was no need for a mother to ditch the cell just yet.
But here’s some good news: in a breakthrough recent study published by Norwegian researchers the team concluded that “mobile phone use during pregnancy is unlikely to have any adverse effect on child neurodevelopment.” Bravo! These findings now provide further evidence that “exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields associated with maternal use of mobile phones during pregnancy is not linked to “neurodevelopment” in children.” Earlier concern for harm to the fetus caused by radio frequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by mobile phones, was mainly driven by reports from experimental animal studies with inconsistent results.
The researchers analysed data from a large Norwegian population-based pregnancy cohort. It involved a range of data collected from mothers and children during and after pregnancy. Data used in this study included 45,389 mother-child pairs. They studied in children at ages 3 and 5 the risk of having “difficulty in sentence complexity”, “incomplete grammar” and “language delay” compared to children of mothers who reported no mobile phone use. In fact a “positive” impact on neurodevelopment was found from the use of cell phones. Further, the investigators also found that children born to mobile phone users had a “positive propensity of surpassing in motor skills”. And the beneficial effects remained even after adjusting for relevant confounders.
Some may still want to argue that we may not have heard the last word about health hazards of mobiles. True! But, for now, the breakthrough study by Norwegian researchers will go a long way in alleviating any concern that carrying-mothers may be harboring about using mobiles. I am sure they will greet this newsy piece of information just like they would the smell of “biery cheese” and a “cheery glass of sparkling wine.” Chin-chin!
(Dr. Francisco Colaço is a seniormost consulting physician, pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa, column writer, singer/songwriter/music aficionado, Mando exponent, past president of the state IMA).
