Adding to concerns associated with cell phone use, the California Department of Public Health (CPDH) advised minimum exposure, triggering a public health debate. City doctors, however, remain divided over the issue.
In its advisory, the CPDH said though the scientific community has not reached a consensus on the risks of cell phone use, long-term exposure may impact human health. The advisory was issued only after a researcher from the University of Berkeley moved a Californian court to make public a 2009 document on the subject the CPDH had prepared.
Doctors here say they cannot comment on the damage that cell phone radiation causes as the matter is in the grey, scientifically, but agreed with suggestions mooted by CPDH. “Keeping the phone away from the body and using earphones is always advisable. Users should also read the fine print to determine how much radiation their phones emit and the minimum distance that they should keep from their devices,” said K. Srikanth, a city-based senior breast cancer specialist.
A senior neurologist from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences echoed the view. However, he refrained from advocating caution for the public, considering that the science on the subject is inconclusive.
CPDH also advised against carrying a radiation emitting device like cell phone and tablets in pockets. Additionally, the U.S. public health body advised against use of cell phones when travelling in a fast-moving vehicle and operating it on low battery.
