CELLULAR PHONES NOT WITHOUT SAFETY, HEALTH PROBLEMS

Everyone at one time or another has certainly witnessed someone with headphones on listening to music while singing out loud, usually off key, entertaining themselves to the great amusement of others. Usually this occurs when the person is so engrossed in what they are listening to that they are oblivious to those around them. Recently, I witnessed the same phenomena in an airport as I was preparing to board a plane for Washington, D.C. A middle aged, slightly heavyset gentleman with male pattern baldness and graying sideburns was apparently speaking to someone at his doctor's office explaining in a loud and thick New York accent that he had recently taken antibiotics that were completely ineffective for his earache (the associated hearing loss was probably responsible for his speaking so loudly). He went on in great detail about changes in his bowel habits resulting in frequent diarrhea and soiling of his "shorts." I wish I had had a camera to capture the expressions on the faces of those in line with seat assignments next to him! Clearly, the cellular phone industry has burgeoned since the introduction of cell phones in 1983. This has become a $200 billion a year wireless communications industry that has been matched only by the personal computer industry in terms of its rate at which new products and features are being introduced to the marketplace. It is estimated that this year there are now more than 80 million Americans using this technology as the rate of growth has been measured at about 40 percent per year. Societal pressures for increased efficiency, flexibility and connectivity as well as an improved sense of safety have contributed to the near ubiquitous use of this technology. As the size and cost of cellular telephones continues to shrink, the user group has grown from middle aged business people to the young and elderly who frequently use these telephones for personal calls.

Also, with the introduction of other mobile technologies including FAX, Internet services, voice mail and paging capabilities, the cell phone has truly been a pivotal bit of technology for the "mobile office."

This technology has not been without problems or safety implications. There have been a number of studies to assess the effect of cellular telephone use and motor vehicle crash rates. Interestingly, when crash data were analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the most common activity associated with the crash was not dialing but rather phone conversation. A few drivers were also startled when their cellular telephones rang, and as they reached for their phones they ran off the road.

Other factors involved driving too fast or failing to yield and the overwhelming majority of cellular telephone users were in the striking vehicle, and hit cars or other large objects that were in clear view of the driver.

Another problem that has occurred with cellular telephone use is the complete inundation of the emergency services system. A recent report noted that in California 29,000 emergency calls were made using cellular telephones in 1985 whereas 2.8 million emergency calls were made in 1996.

This is almost 100 times more in just 11 years! It is estimated that about 18 million such calls are made nationwide, often overburdening response networks with multiple notifications of non-life threatening events. Some venues report that when a serious mishap occurs as many as 100 or more calls may come in, jamming the lines and potentially preventing other emergencies from being reported.

And of course, everyone has heard about the possibility that cellular telephones can cause brain cancer. There is no question that these phones do emit radiofrequency waves that, depending upon how close the cell phone is held to the head, may penetrate the scalp and potentially the skull and brain. However, there are no convincing data at this point in time that link these devices to the development of brain tumors. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association has set an August 1, 2001 deadline for rating and labeling all new cell phones with frequency emissions measurements. Each handset will then have a maximum specific absorption rate, which will serve as a measurement of how much radiofrequency energy is absorbed.

Watch for these ratings appearing later next year as you consider various cellular telephones, be mindful that while you are driving you may be less attentive to traffic issues so deliberately try to heighten your awareness when using a phone while driving and, of course, watch what you say in public when using your cell phone.

Web Resource

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/wireless/

This is a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the safety of wireless communications in vehicles.