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BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Today we bring good news and bad news. The good news is that we’ve found added reason to abide by New Jersey’s strict hands-free cell phone laws. The bad news is that hands-free phones are looking like the right option since the announcement this week by the World Health Organization that cell phone usage may pose a possible risk for cancer.
Handsfreeinfo.com reports the New Jersey Senate has approved a plan to toughen New Jersey’s distracted driving law, making fines start at $200 and increasing them to $600, plus a license suspension.
Governor Christie signed legislation prohibiting public transit drivers from texting and talking on cell phones in January. New Jersey now is one of the first states in the nation with a full set of distracted driving laws.
Texting while driving is never a good thing. As far as causing cancer, good luck trying to get people to cut down on cell phone usage these days. But aren’t there a lot of things that put our health at risk in our daily lives?
The study from WHO put cell phones on a list of possible carcinogens that includes DDT and exhaust from gasoline engines. And working as a hairdresser is considered riskier than using a cellphone, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The agency’s research showed other possible carcinogens involved in working as dry cleaners or firefighters.
Michael Knox, an electrical engineering professor, conducted tests on a family’s cell phone, Wi-Fi enabled computer and microwave oven. While there were measurable levels of radiation coming from each device, Knox told ABC News the levels were not a cause for concern.
According to the National Cancer Institute, an international study group known as Interphone, reported that cell phone users have no added risk of two of the most common forms of brain cancer — glioma and meningioma. And they found no extra dangers with a steadily increasing number of calls, longer call time, or time since cell phones first came into use.
They are also failing to take into account, all the studies on microwave radiation which show adverse health effects and biological effects that are occuring at a fraction of their accepted 'safety levels'.
The public should do their own investigation to find out how dangerous cell phones, cordless telephones and Wi Fi systems are. They can find much of the information at www.bioinitiative.org