Was browsing one of my favorite local e-newsletters and ran across a link to this grist author's #2 resolution for 2012:

2. Keep my cell phone out of my pants pocket. 2011 was so full of astonishing events (the Arab Spring and the Japanese tsunami, for example) that it was easy to miss the World Health Organization's listing of cell phone radiation as a "carcinogenic hazard," right up there with lead and car exhaust. As a former government regulator, I've seen enough of these studies to realize there are uncertainties, but I'm at least going to use earphones instead of holding the phone next to my brain, and I'll stop keeping the phone in my pocket next to my, well, you know.

A friend has encouraged me to use wired headphones for my cell phone, which I try to remember to do, instead of the wireless (bluetooth, etc.) ones. It's feels kinda crazy old school sometimes, but I think it's worth it.

What else do you do to limit your radiation or EMF exposure with your cell phone?

I don't use my cell phone much, but need to keep it handy at all times. I also worry about the radiation issues and don't like doing the pocket drop thing. I tried a fanny pack with insulated sleeves, (I use a can cover in a cup holder while I drive) but the sleeves were too large so whenever I would bend over the phone would hit the ground.

I found a pouch that will hold papers (like license, a credit card and some cash) and has a pocket that is the right size for the cell phone. There is an attached "leash" with a clip on the end that makes it convenient to locate the thing when it's in my purse. When I'm at the farm the leash allows me to hang the pouch from whatever is handy to the job I'm doing. That will work well until the time I walk away and leave it hanging from a tree!

Wired headphones? I'll have to look for that.

Lolly Knowles wrote:There is an attached "leash" with a clip on the end that makes it convenient to locate the thing when it's in my purse. When I'm at the farm the leash allows me to hang the pouch from whatever is handy to the job I'm doing. That will work well until the time I walk away and leave it hanging from a tree!

I like your idea for working outside (though not the leaving it hanging part! ). I should do more of this while working in the office - set it down farther away than right at my elbow or next to my hand.

The cell phone radiation link also suggested not sleeping with your head next to it and using a regular alarm clock instead of the cell phone. I thought that was a good point, too.

Whenever possible, I don't carry it.
In my car, it sits on the seat, a couple feet from this body.
In my house, it sits on a table several feet away.
When I can, I use the speakerphone and don't hold it.
Limit length of talk to lessen exposure.

Use Skype or GoogleVoice or other form of talk.

When using a Wired headset, make sure it states, from the manufacturer, that it reduces radiated exposure, because a cheap wired headset can actually cause MORE radiated exposure to that side of your body/internal organs and head/brain. One of the good things about a wired headset is that it can act as an antenna to increase incoming signal strength, but again, that comes with the risk of increased exposure.

I was among the first Cellular Retailers/Installers in the US. During our trainings, we were REPEATEDLY told to NEVER touch the antenna during transmission, as the effect was similar to holding a piece of metal in a microwave oven. The manual Motorola provided had several disclaimers and warnings about health risks for Installers and Customers, including recommended placement of antenna, no closer than 13" of any passengers head. Motorola did their preparatory research and testing for this new technology, and knew precautions were necessary to reduce the exposure to the strong microwaves that make possible the ability to place and receive mobile calls.

One of the funny pieces in the manuals (circa mid-80s) stated there may be as many as 1,000,000 cell phones in operation in the US by the turn of the century! WOW!

One of the not-so-funny things about later manuals (circa late 80s) ..... the warnings and safety sections were eliminated. Once the industry realized their original prediction of future use was off exponentially, by factors of thousands, they did EVERYTHING they could do to downplay, dismiss or even erase knowledge of past health warnings. When more that 1,000,000 phones were being added to systems yearly, profits became a key focus.

I don't know today's exact figures for the US or World, but doing a quick search, I saw in the country of India alone, 120,000,000 phones were bought fiscal year 2010/2011, with 18,000,000 new customers added. extrapolating those numbers worldwide would show enormous Dollars and Rupees and Pounds and Euros and Dinars and Yen and Yuan being spent for service and hardware. I think it's safe to say that studies or findings from within the communication industry would probably not be as impartial or independent as one would hope studies of health effects should be.

I'm new to these forums, but I've seen and heard more than a few posters refer to "tin foil hats." This is one area I'd highly suggest you actually take to wearing yours. Snugly.

They've alwas given me headaches so I only use on speaker or with a headset. A few years ago I owned a Motorola V 190. An internet search revealed that it had the highest radiation of any on their list. ops: If you have an old phone, check out how it compares to others.

I think this is a good topic to be talking about. Cell phone radiation should be treated like a legitimate threat. I know that there might not be hard evidence to show a connection to cancer and cell phone use, but anytime we expose ourselves to radiation we should be careful. I always like the mantra of being safe rather than sorry.

Thanks for all the helpful information.

Hello, my name is Eric Anderson and I have been following news regarding health effects from cell phones, especially the attached World Health Organization (WHO) report classifying cell phone radiation as carcinogenic.

Many countries are passing new laws regarding the use of cell phones (see attached Cellular News Report regarding India that now requires retailers to display phone radiation levels next to the phones they sell). Health Canada is also proposing to adopt guidelines for limited cell phone use. Other countries that have issued warnings regarding cell phone use include Russia, the UK, Israel, Belgium, Germany, Finland, and France.

I have been trying to find some company that has developed a safer phone, and I found a company in Nevada that has a proven solution to the problem. They soon will be introducing a new Smartphone that protects users from cell phone radiation according to the FCC 99.4%.

The name of the company is Aerius International. Their CEO lives in Las Vegas, and their phones have been tested in FCC authorized labs and are proven to reduce SAR, or the specific absorption rate of microwave radiation into users, 96.75%.

I think it would be a good public service if we can help them on their patented technology, which is a smart phone that redirects 100% of its radiation away from the user. Also, please visit their website in 6 languages at www.goaerius.com where they post all carrier, FCC and independent CTIA authorized lab reports on the performance of Aerius phones.

My email address is ericandersonhealthwatch@gmail.com. Also, the company contact information is Aerius International Inc, a Nevada Corporation, 7500 W. Lake Mead Blvd, Suite 9-310, and their phone number is 866-412-9800. FYI, the name of their CEO is Bill Luxon.

This company can use our help they are trying to get there phones out and the company is looking for investors who will help the company because they are ready to sale the phones and T-Mobile said they wanted the phones so lets help them because Bill Luxon started this whole company to save life’s and they are the only one’s with a solution.

Thank you,
Eric Anderson

Very meaningfull drivel. When ever we change something in our environment, like a trillions of people carrying around 1 watt microwaves in just a few decades, we should observe or at least think about the impact. Which some of us we are doing right now. Heres a great podcast interview with the author of the book Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family by Devra Davis. He posted great info to go along with the podcast and posted that he as a result of the phone info.

This video was informative although somewhat dated (2001).

Easy one for me - I've never owned a cell phone & have no plans to get one. Not because of the radiation risk, although I don't doubt that for a NY minute, more the "I can't see any reason for the expense and annoyance" factor.

I know that doesn't work for most people's lifestyle but it does for me, thank the gods.

Don't sit next to your computer or stand in front of the microwave when it is running, either--those are bigger sources of radiation. Buy a metal desk and put the tower on the outside away from your legs; put your laptop on a metal cookie sheet if nothing else.

Your phone transmits very little, only receives, unless you are doing something--unless you have a smart phone with lots of bad apps loaded. I shut off data on my phone unless I need to use it--that helps battery life, too. New phones transmit at MUCH lower power than the early phones and tested for radiation exposure towards the user, so they are safer--but we use them so much more that the overall exposure could be more.

The .gov exposure limit for a phone is higher than for a laptop--your skull is good protector, better than your reproductive parts! Or the .gov doesn't care if you can't think as long as you can reproduce. you decide.

why metal?

Kelson Water wrote:
why metal?

it blocks/absorbs radio waves. Copper is best, steel works fine for these powers, aluminum is better than nothing.