Phones (Mobile & Cordless)

DID YOU KNOW

Cordless phones should be seen in the same light as mobile phones; some emit pulsed microwave frequencies continuously from the base unit radiating their emissions several rooms wide.

Mobile phones have become an integral part of the western way of life. The use of mobile phones has received a lot of media attention recently – and for good reason: the evidence linking mobile phone use and specific types of brain tumours is mounting. Despite the reluctance by health authorities to acknowledge an association, the reality is that specific brain tumours - namely gliomas and acoustic neuromas - have significantly increased in the past 10 years. According to research by Professor Lennart Hardell of Sweden, people under the age of 20 had more than a five fold increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma (the latter can cause deafness) if they used a mobile phone and a four times higher risk with the use of cordless phones.

Where there is a growing concern regarding the use of mobile phones, there seems to be little regard to the use of cordless phones. Digitally enhanced cordless telephones (DECT) continuously emit microwave signals 24 hours a day even when they are not being used. Rooms nearby or immediately above the base unit including adjacent apartments, can be exposed to microwave frequencies well above the building biology exposure limits. Furthermore, microwaves are also emitted from the handset when you make or receive a call. In contrast, analogue cordless phones only emit this radiation from the base unit and the handset when a call is being made. If you insist on using a digital cordless phone, keep the calls short and make sure the base unit is at least two rooms away from sleeping areas which includes bedrooms immediately above it. In contrast to cordless phones, landline phones don’t emit any form of microwave radiation.

TESTING

One way to assess the level of radiation from a mobile phone is to determine its specific absorption rate (SAR). To find this information click here. Testing for emissions from mobile and cordless phones requires highly technical and expensive equipment. There is where a building biologist can be of assistance. For details, click here.

SOLUTION

Here are some useful tips from the book Healthy Home, Healthy Family.

• Replace your cordless phone with a corded phone that is wired to a power point.
• Use a landline phone when you need to make calls.
• Use SMS instead of making or receiving calls whenever you can.
• Use loudspeaker when using your phone.
• An air tube ear piece such as the one by Safe-T-Fone (developed by a Melbourne engineer) will reduce the SAR rating by 99.9% and is available from our shop.
• NEVER use your mobile phone in a car, tram, bus or train as the metal carriage will cause the microwave frequencies to bounce creating hot spots of exposure.