[Will]

The problem with the whole "Cell phones cause cancer!" scare is that it is impossible to get accurate numbers at the moment. To get a (relatively) definite answer would require a small number of independently run studies spanning over around 15 to 25 years. They would have to take into account the amount of mobile use, the power of the output of the mobile, and any other factors that would increase the chances of a subject getting cancer (family history, exposure to carcinogens, etc.) As of now, there is no legitimate study into the risk of getting cancer from cell phone radiation.

Personally, I think that any results from a properly conducted study of this kind would yield results showing a statistically insignificant difference between the group of mobile Users vs. non-mobile Users. A large part of the concern about cancer is due to the general public having no clue what radiation is, and the fact that it was made into a boogieman for every generation in developed countries since the 1950s.

It's actually kind of fun, when people use the words "radiation" and "cancer" in the same sentance, to point out all the things that emit radiation. Like television, computer monitors, light bulbs, speakers, power lines, the Sun, the stars, the Earth, etc, etc, etc. All of them give of at least a little bit of radiation. After telling people this, there are usually one of two reactions: complete disbelief of everything I just said (sometimes even including the Sun), or extreme paranoia and the urge to make a tinfoil hat.

--edit: In Fyron's defense, he did say that the longer wavelength radiation would have to be orders of magnitude more powerful than that emited by cell phones. The UV radiation from the Sun is several orders of magnitude more powerful than the output of a cell phone.

[ January 03, 2004, 01:08: Message edited by: Will ]