The X-Factor Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, cellphones may be carcinogenic. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/cell-phones-possibly-carcinogenic-who-says/2011/05/31/AGRktZFH_story.html?hpid=z1 This got me thinking about the following hypothetical situation. Let's assume that there was a study released tomorrow that provided definitive, fool-proof evidence that cellphone use causes cancer. Would you continue to use your cellphone as you do now, reduce your usage, or stop using it all together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixcuincle Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 http://twitter.com/OpieRadio/statuses/75860439107510272 RT @NBCNewYork Are you concerned that cell phones may cause cancer? Tweet us #TINY ME: tweeting my concern may cause finger cancer Dummies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techboy Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I'm still intensely skeptical. The level of radiation cell phones produce cannot cause cellular damage. The physics doesn't work. If, however, it was somehow proven that there is a definite link (perhaps via some as yet discovered mechanism), then obviously I would just quit using one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Honestly, what doesn't cause cancer these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Paint Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Honestly, what doesn't cause cancer these days? Organic food and well water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Organic food and well water. well water is contaminated. You have to buy special water from companies based in San Francisco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Yes they said cell phones may be carcinogenic. But not at a level higher than anything else, about equivalent to coffee. Classifying agents as "possibly carcinogenic" doesn't mean they automatically cause cancer and some experts said the ruling shouldn't change people's cellphone habits."Anything is a possible carcinogen," said Donald Berry, a professor of biostatistics at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. He was not involved in the WHO cancer group's assessment. "This is not something I worry about and it will not in any way change how I use my cellphone," he said — speaking from his cellphone. The same cancer research agency lists alcoholic drinks as a known carcinogen and night shift work as a probable carcinogen. Anyone's risk for cancer depends on many factors, from genetic makeup to the amount and length of time of an exposure. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperBash Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 This is why I text all the time instead of calling. Don't get Cancer, text a friend instead of calling them. NBC's The More You Know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedr01 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 well water is contaminated. You have to buy special water from companies based in San Francisco. exactly, i mean duh hasn't everyone seen this movie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 You're missing a very important option in the poll. I guess you guys have not heard about the new adaptors you can buy for your phone to combat the harmful effects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The X-Factor Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Yes they said cell phones may be carcinogenic. But not at a level higher than anything else, about equivalent to coffee. I agree that there probably is no link between the two, but my original question was purely hypothetical. With the way some people are addicted to their cellphones, I wouldn't be surprised if a significant portion of the population just said **** it and continued to use them even if these findings were true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 This is why I text all the time instead of calling.Don't get Cancer, text a friend instead of calling them. NBC's The More You Know... so I guess when you are texting with a phone in your lap what you are really saying is that I prefer my cancerous tumors in my crotch as oppose to your head. You keep texting, I'll stick to land lines and yelling. as a smoker I am counting down the days to the ban on talking on cell phones in public places, not just to prevent "second hand cell phone" cancers,but it is just plain rude. Why do people talk on their phones in public and think that they deserve some kind of privacy? I you want privacy go find it. ---------- Post added June-1st-2011 at 12:41 PM ---------- I agree that there probably is no link between the two, but my original question was purely hypothetical. With the way some people are addicted to their cellphones, I wouldn't be surprised if a significant portion of the population just said **** it and continued to use them even if these findings were true. Does anyone else get the feeling this is the same type of discussions people had when the first studies that linked smoking to cancer came out? No one took those studies seriously then, just as it looks like the majority of people do not take them seriously now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 IF cellphones were proven to cause cancer, I would moderate my use. That's a big IF, but it is certainly possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardi gras skin Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 They were just talking about this on NPR. The category of carcinogen WHO placed cell phones in also includes coffee. And this category placement is not based on any new data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enter Apotheosis Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I guess you guys have not heard about the new adaptors you can buy for your phone to combat the harmful effects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Paint Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 well water is contaminated. You have to buy special water from companies based in San Francisco. It's not contaminated in the country, as long as the owner doesn't dump pesticides and other chemicals around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 what, exactly, is possibly carcinogenic about cell phones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupidmorals Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 http://www.boingboing.net/2011/06/01/the-risk-of-cell-pho.html In summary: The WHO announcement doesn't really tell us anything new; the evidence that cell phones might cause cancer is still very slim; and even if cell phones do cause cancer, the risk to you isn't particularly large. Whether you change the way you use your cell phone is up to you. But that's the information you need to have to make that decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenaa Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Or our possibly very limited understanding of physics doesn't work. It's all we don't know that gets us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 If talking on your cell phone causes brain cancer, then what does it do to my family jewels if I keep it in my pocket ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwyl Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 what, exactly, is possibly carcinogenic about cell phones? Eating them. All those plastics and heavy metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardi gras skin Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 what, exactly, is possibly carcinogenic about cell phones? The heat, as I understand it from the NPR interview. There's nothing really carcinogenic about cell phones other than the low grade risk associated with putting anything hot up against your head. ---------- Post added June-14th-2011 at 05:02 PM ---------- Eating them. All those plastics and heavy metals. Ignore what I said. Pwyl's answer is way better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostofSparta Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I will continue to use mine as I currently do. Why? Because I use my phone on average about 5 minutes a week, and that for only about 9 months out of the year. Basically, I have a cell phone that I need for one job (a pizza delivery driver, and I only have it as a "just in case" I get a flat or need to call a customer), and I'm too poor to pay for an additional land line for my other job (as a sub, where I get a 1 minute phone call in the AM telling me where to go and who I'm in for). I do text with my phone, but I don't text with it in my lap. So if I get cancer from using it about as much in a year as some people do in a day, then God was going to find a way to kill me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I do text with my phone, but I don't text with it in my lap. Or you could just wait til you've had all of your kids, and start doing that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I would have chosen option #4. "I have to die of something." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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