American Academy of Paediatrics advise parents to reduce their children’s exposure to cell phone

I have a huge collection of phone mast and electrosensitivity reports awaiting sorting in my inbox but this one, which arrived last night, I thought worth highlighting now.

The AAP is basing its advice on  recent research from a U.S. National Toxicology Program study which found that repeated exposure to wireless cellphones caused rats to develop highly malignant heart and brain cancers. As the AAP caution, this study was done on rats and not humans and the rats were exposed to a great deal of cellphone radiation – far more than the  average even heavy user. However, the lead toxicologist at the NTP, Ronald L. Melnick, PhD said:

“The findings of brain tumors (gliomas) and malignant schwann cell tumors of the heart in the NTP study, as well as DNA damage in brain cells, present a major public health concern because these occurred in the same types of cells that have been reported to develop into tumors in epidemiological studies of adult cell phone users.”

So it may only have been rats that developed the tumours but the correlation with adults is very strong.

“For children,” Mr Melnick went on, ” the cancer risks may be greater than that for adults because of greater penetration and absorption of cell phone radiation in the brains of children and because the developing nervous system of children is more susceptible to tissue-damaging agents. Based on this new information, regulatory agencies need to make strong recommendations for consumers to take precautionary measures and avoid close contact with their cell phones, and especially limit or avoid use of cell phones by children.”

Here is a link to the AAP’s advice on cell phone usage among children.

As it happened, in the same batch of emails came another  post from Alison Main – an ‘EMF refugee’.

Alison’s is a story that you have probably heard before – and I fear may hear many times again.  A very 21st century, high flying, 30 something who, thanks to the purchase of  ‘plush microfibre love seat’ became  electrosensitive. Because the number of such people are growing I do not feel bad about offering you yet another cautionary tale….

And it is not that I want everyone to give up their smart phone and all the wonders of our newly connected world – I love it and it is brilliant. I just want us to be more careful about how we use it….

Some more useful information at EMF Empowerment.