Mobile phone, the twenty first century wonder toy in the hands of children, men, women and senior citizens becoming versatile with each day with multiple functions than mere communication with one another. One may call it mobile epidemic or mobile mania. Today 5.3 billion people posses mobile phone, almost 77% of the World population. China and India with large population lead the mobile growth. Globally 76% have access to mobile phone while 17% to land lines. More than 40% of 100 people have broadband subscriptions in developed World.
A small hand-held phone which was used earlier merely for incoming and outgoing calls when one is out of home or office, its ease of use in terms of memory dialing and memory storage, missed call handling and organiser has attracted one and all. Other features are that it works as digital camera, a voice and video recorder, data transmitter, an internet browser, play games and as a music player – all rolled into one. Mobile is overtaking PC as the most popular way to get on to the web. Lots of new handsets support 3G (fast internet). Most popular mobile destinations are m-banking, travel, shopping, local info, news, video, sports and email. SMS is the king of mobile messaging. 8 trillion text messages will be sent in 2011 (www.mobithinking.com).
Mobile phones in healthcare are connecting doctors, patients and information in creative and innovative ways. For example ‘text4baby’ provides health tips by SMS text messages for expectant mothers and new moms. ‘My Diabetes Guide’ steps patients through healthy living with diabetes, while ‘Mednet’, a provider of cardiac monitoring products and surveillance services is helping doctors and patients by wireless monitoring of patient devices via Bluetooth enabled cell phones (www.infocellphones.com). Mayo Clinic Meditation, launched in early January, focuses on the mind-body connection to stay in harmony for good health, is currently available for $2.99 on iTunes (www.mayoclinic.org). In a lighter vein, Maran a telecom professional brings analog of mobile phone to understand the Gita. “The body is like the handset and the Prāna can be compared to the battery. The Sim card will then be the equivalent of the vasanas, the impressions stored in the mind. The jīvātmā is like the electromagnetic signal inside the phone, while Paramātma is like electromagnetic signal in the air (Tapovan
Prasad, March 2010).
Today, a multi-tasking mobile phone is not just a reality but also a necessity for many. When TV came with its 24 hour broadcasting it drastically affected the social get together and family meetings. Mobile is over taking TV and further isolating the people, in particular the children and teens cornered to their individual nests affecting social connection and communication. It is further hastened by the addictive nature of mobile with its playing music and video movies giving birth to mobile culture and mobile phone etiquettes when in gatherings.
While it is exciting to go through the rapid developments in mobile phone, it is equally discouraging to go through the dark side of the mobile. It is important to realize early than suffer later for whole life. Prof. Girish Kumar (www.itasindia.org/GK-EMR-cell-tower.pdf) in his elegant review on radiation hazards from cell phones / cell towers, brings out common features between cell phones and cigarettes of 21st century. Both are produced by Multi-Billion $ companies, products are linked to illness and Industries deny any health problems.
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted from cell phones, cell phone towers, Wi-Fi, computers, Laptops, TV and FM towers, microwave ovens etc. cause significant health hazards on human, animals, birds, plants and environment. A cell phone transmits 1-2 watts of power. In USA, SAR (specific absorption rate) for cell phone is 6 minutes. A person should not use cell phone for more than 18-24 minutes per day. People living within 50 to 300 meter radius from mobile tower, are more prone to ill effects of EMR.
In excess mobile users, due to changes in the electrical activity of the brain, there are complaints of concentration, memory, behavior, sleep disruption, headache and appetite loss. Increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, free radical formation, DNA damage, increase in cancer risk, infertility in males, eye and ear troubles have been reported. Children are more vulnerable and carry bigger risk of health problems. International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO specialized agency has classified electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Studies on harmful effects of mobile phone use over time period longer than 15 years are lacking. WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment from EMR exposure by 2012 in particular on children and adolescents. Solutions to avoid excess radiation needs research by industry as well.
Take home lessons on mobile phone are, use mobile less, use for shorter duration, keep away from the body (Blackberry warns that the device should be kept at least one inch from the body, and should not be worn or carried on the body) and use “hands free” device where possible. Several nations have advised moderate use of mobile phones for children. Before mobile causes serious and irreversible health problems, there seems to be an urgent need for anti smoking type movement for judicious use of cell phone.
September 20, 2011 Prof. B.C. Harinath
