According to a January 2003 study, cell phone use may damage brain neurons. For details, read the article: "Nerve Cell Damage in Mammalian Brain after Exposure to Microwaves from GSM Mobile Phones" (PDF) (from Environmental Health Perspectives, republished electronically with permission from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences).
If you are concerned about avoiding even potential health risks from cell phones, you can take a few simple precautions when using your phone:
- Reduce the amount of time you spend on cellular phones. Use a conventional phone whenever possible.
- Purchase a phone with a low specific absorption rate (SAR). SAR is measured in watts per kilogram of RF (radio frequency), and the maximum SAR allowed by the Federal Communications Commission is 1.6. In contrast, some "low-radiation" phones have SARs lower than 0.5.
- If you use your cell phone primarily in your car, consider switching to a phone that connects to an antenna mounted outside your vehicle.
For additional information about cell phone safety, please see:
If you are a UCSD employee and need more information, contact EH&S Radiation Safety, (858) 534-6138.
| 
At Your Service Online
