Here's what to do if you're worried about cellphones causing cancer
A new and partial report from the U.S. National Toxicology Program found a likely link between high amounts of cellphone radiation exposure and cancer development in male lab rats. While older reports have shown that cellphones aren't noticeably harmful for humans, it's still a potentially concerning development.
If you are concerned, and want to prevent the small possibility that radio-frequency emissions from your cellphone might cause cancer, there are some things you can do to put your mind at ease -- besides wrapping yourself in aluminum foil (which won't work).
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Get a radiation-blocking case
If you're carrying your phone around in your pocket all day, every day, you're going to be exposing your body to low amounts of radiation from your phone all the time. There are a number of cases you can get that claim to block a lot of that radiation.
Manufacturers like Pong and RF Safe offer radiation-reducing cases for most smartphone models and their websites include evidence they say backs up their claims. The companies also say the cases won't impede your connectivity. Some of the cases only cover the back of the phone, which just means you'll have to face the front of the phone away from yourself when it's in your pocket, but it will still do the trick.
Lower your phone's emissions
If you don't want to shell out the dough for a fancy case, you can always put your cellphone in airplane mode to reduce the radio frequencies it emits. Obviously, you won't want to leave it on airplane mode all the time, but if you don't need to communicate with your phone for an extended period, airplane mode will cut virtually all emissions from the phone. As a bonus, you'll also help lessen the strain on your phone's battery.
If you want to track your phone's emissions, Android users can check out the app Tawkon which will tell you when your phone's radiation emissions are spiking. When emissions are high, you can throw your phone in airplane mode to drop it down.
There is currently no similar app for iOS devices.
Keep your phone away from your face
Holding your cellphone up to your face to take a call can undermine your attempts to reduce contact with phone radiation. There are a few things you can do to avoid this.
First off, you can use speakerphone to keep your phone away from you while chatting. You could also use a headset, earbuds with a built-in microphone or a Bluetooth earpiece and keep your phone in your purse or pocket. Combine this with a radiation-blocking case and you'll be stopping as much radiation as possible while still using your phone.
If all else fails, you can just stick to corded landlines. Corded landline phones don't emit radio frequencies like cellphones do, but cordless landline phones do.
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