Source: BlackDoctor.org

We do everything with our mobile phones. We order gifts, we find directions, we check on family pictures, we share our ups and downs…oh, and of course we call people too. We are on them so much, many of us fall asleep with cell phones in our bed.

Now, it’s how often we are using these phones that we are at risk of certain diseases. According to the California Department Of Public Health, it’s because mobile phones put out radio frequency (RF) energy.

Some scientists and public health officials believe RF energy may affect human health.

Although the science is still evolving, some laboratory experiments and human health studies have suggested the possibility that long-term, high use of cell phones may be linked to certain types of cancer and other health

effects, including:

– brain cancer and tumors of the acoustic nerve (needed for hearing and maintaining balance) and salivary glands

– lower sperm counts and inactive or less mobile sperm

– headaches and effects on learning and memory, hearing, behavior, and sleep

The notice comes after several cities, including Berkeley and San Francisco, issued local warnings that people should make some distance between their phones and their bodies.

While the RF from mobile phones remains at relatively low levels compared to large scale industrial instruments, research has suggested that our frequent and close-range exposure to mobile phones means it could be enough to put us at risk.

In fact, some smartphone manufacturers like Apple agree and even include an ‘RF exposure’ notice in the iPhone’s settings.

Apple explains that the iPhone’s RF emissions were tested at 5mm from the body, and fall within the US standards of safety, as well as providing advice for reducing exposure like using speakerphone or hands-free accessories.

Previous studies have shown evidence that mobile phone exposure may cause tumors in the brain or ears, while psychologists have warned it could also be linked to poor mental health, attention and sleep in teenagers.

The California guidelines warn against close contact when phones have two or fewer bars of signal, when moving in a car, or if you’re trying to receive or send large quantities of data.

Instead of leaning your head on your phone or sleeping with the phone in your bed, the study also suggests using headsets, sleeping with your phone away from you like on a night stand or across the room and carrying them in a bag instead of in your pocket.