In the ‘90s, cell phones emerged and became one of the most popular electronic devices in the world, with many people spending hours every day talking on them. What do people need to know about radiation and cell phones, and should they worry about it? We’ll answer those questions and more below!
Do Cell Phones Emit Radiation?
Do cell phones emit radiation, or is that a myth? Since cell phones emerged on the scene and became so common, there have been worries about the long-term health effects of putting these electronic devices near our heads so often. In short, yes, cell phones emit radiation, but it’s likely not the kind that many worry about.
Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation, which is different from the ionizing radiation produced by X-ray machines. This non-ionizing radiation from cell phones is Radio Frequency (RF) energy.
What’s the Difference Between Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation?
RF energy is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is a grouping of electric and magnetic fields that move together as waves and fall under two categories—ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
Non-ionizing radiation has very little energy compared to ionizing radiation—not nearly enough to break chemical bonds or strip electrons from atoms, which can cause cancer and other health problems in humans. Some common sources of non-ionizing radiation include:
- • Cell phones
- • Light bulbs
- • Televisions
- • Computers
- • Wi-Fi Routers
Ionizing radiation has nearly a billion times more energy than non-ionizing, making it dangerous. Ionizing radiation comes from sources we most often associate with harmful radiation, like X-rays, radioactive material, and nuclear fission.
Should I Be Worried About Cell Phone Radiation?
So what do people need to know about radiation, their cell phones, and their health? Since the invention of cell phones, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has funded many large studies and gathered tons of public data regarding cell phones and radiation-related health problems.
Over the decades of research, no study has conclusively linked brain cancer and other radiation-caused ailments to cell phone use. Even with this lack of connection, you can take some precautions that work, like cell phone radiation shields. But rest assured that even if you talk on your cell phone all day, the science is clear that you don’t have to worry about your long-term health.
