The world has gone totally mobile and we are all hooked on to our mobile phones more than ever before. For most of us, it is even our main computing device. To be honest we have become increasingly obsessed with our mobile devices and too much of anything is certainly not a good thing. Youngsters and children have increasingly been exposed to mobile devices at an very young age and this is a major cause of concern. Rightly so, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has today issued a guidance which sounds more like a warning for anyone who want to decrease their exposure to the radiation / RF energy linked to mobile phones.
The California government body lists a few pointers to avoid radiation exposure which make a lot of sense. Lets briefly walk through each one of them.
- Keeping the phone away from the body
Most of you might know about SAR levels on mobile phones and these do make sure mobile devices emit safe levels of radiation. But these days we carry more than one mobile device and some people prefer to carry in one of their garment pockets. It could be a good thing to reduce the time you carry a mobile phone on your body or your pocket as much as possible especially when not in use. - Reducing cell phone use when the signal is weak
I always recommend people to turn of their phone or put it in airplane mode when coverage is poor. First you save battery because the phone is working extra hard to get the signal, second the radiation levels could be higher than usual. If you are in a area with poor 4G coverage but has excellent 3G coverage, it would be wise to switch your phone to 3G instead to save both battery and reduce radiation exposure - Reducing the use of cell phones to stream audio or video, or to download or upload large files
This is interesting because data transfer is at peak during these kind of talks. I would think even using tethering would fit under this bill. - Keeping the phone away from the bed at night
This is a good for two reasons – it can help you sleep better and also you reduce exposure. - Removing headsets when not on a call
- Avoiding products that claim to block radio frequency energy. These products may actually increase your exposure.
This for those of you who like to use those signal boosters and stickers claiming to improve coverage. Avoid them!
“Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults.”
On a personal note, I would request those with tiny kids or infants in the house. Do avoid using mobile devices including cell phones, cordless phones, tablets(in cellular mode) or MiFis when close to infants. We as adults have better immunity to such radiations and is generally within safe limits but really small children could be affected. Any radiation coming from a mobile device beyond a level could be harmful. While the acceptable level of radiation won’t affect most of us , some do get affected. Just like bad air and your allergies. Also many of us tend to sleep with our mobile phones under our pillows or near by. Better to place it at a bed side table or a little further away.
There is no reason to panic and there is no imminent danger but just a warning bell for us to use our mobile devices in a more responsible manner.