Physicist warns: Cell phones endangers kids

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province -- Children should not be exposed to cell phones due to their young ages where their nerves are still being developed, health physicist expert Agnette Peralta of the Center for Devise Regulation, Radiation Health and Research of the Department of Health said.

In a forum on effects of radiation here, Peralta said cell phones carry electromagneticfields directly resulting to heating. The longer the cell phone stays near the ear, the more heat it accumulates.

The health physicist also that that “there is some epidemiological evidence that prolonged exposure to high levels of power frequency magnetic fields is associated with a moderately increased risk of leukaemia in children”.

Among frequent cell phone users, Peralta advised them to bring the cellphone to a loud speaker mode or use a hearing piece.

Paralta was especially requested by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Mountain Province to shed light on whether or not there is radiation from cell sites.

A year ago, residents of Sagada petitioned Globe telecommunications to stop operations while it has not yet secured the necessary requirements including a business permit and Environmental Compliance Certificate.

Following electromagnetic field tests on three strategic locations from the Smart and Globe cell sites and Radio Sagada, findings revealed insignificant ELF of said sites to cause harm to humans.

There is no test yet done on plants, Peralta noted.
Peralta said international laboratory experiments provided no good evidence that ELF fields are capable of causing cancer, nor do human epidemiological studies suggest that they cause cancer in general.

Findings were inconclusive as to whether radiation from cell sites and cell phones cause cancer.

Other investigations included cataract, male sexual function and fertility, female menstrual function and fertility, spontaneous abortion, birth outcome and congenital malformation, haematological and cardiovascular disorders and symptoms.