Further, Italian researchers have said that leukemia
cells multiplied faster when exposed to mobile phone radiation.
The
radiation has also been linked to disturbed sleep patterns, headaches and
fatigue. Electro-magnetic fields from mobile phone use before sleep are said to
significantly increase brain activity during early sleep, leading to disturbed
sleeping patterns.
Mobile phone use has also been associated with
increased blood pressure, and the level of increase, it is claimed, is enough to
trigger a heart attack or stroke in those at risk.
There is also the
burning issue of where to keep mobile phones when they aren't in use. The shirt
pocket is considered dangerous because the radiation emitted by the phone would
be too close to the heart—this apart from reports that cell phones
interfere with the functioning of pacemakers. Keeping them in pant pockets has
been linked to a drop in sperm counts. Perhaps it's time to bring cargos back in
fashion, with special phone holders in the pockets around the knees—there
doesn't seem to be any research linking mobile phones with arthritis just
yet.
Apart from this, there is also the relatively recent phenomenon
of exploding cell phones, though it appears that most of these are due to
inferior-quality unbranded batteries. All in all, the greatest acknowledged risk
for cell phones users is still the vintage 'distraction leading to a road
accident'.
News of these hazards has led to several interesting
innovations. Radiation shields are available, which can cut out more than 90 per
cent of the harmful radiations from cell phones. Where others saw a health
hazard, Levi's saw a business opportunity. They developed a range of trousers
that have a cell phone pocket with a special anti-radiation lining.