We’re not really sure if this is good or bad news, but a recent government-funded study shows radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells.
The actual effects of this activity are unknown, but the researchers findings are enough to call for more studies.
Published in the Journal of American Medical Association, this is the first study to specifically look at how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones affects glucose metabolism, a normal function, in brain the brain.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Nora Volkow, says:
“When glucose metabolism goes up, it activates cells. The findings are an indication that exposure to cell phones activate the brain much more easily than we previously thought.”
Unfortunately, the study doesn’t say whether this increased cellular activation has a negative effect on our brain.
However, do not fear. The CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, has found no evidence that cell phones are a danger to our health. John Walls, the group’s vice president for public affairs, said in a statement:
“The peer-reviewed scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices, within the limits established by the FCC, do not pose a public health risk or cause any adverse health effects. In May 2010, the Interphone project, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which was the largest study of cell phone use and brain tumors ever undertaken and included substantial numbers of subjects using cell phones for ten years or longer, found that ‘overall, no increase in risk was observed with the use of mobile phones.'”
Phew! So if there is no negative effect…maybe there will be a positive! Maybe cell phones are actually increasing the activity and making us super smart!
Or, maybe not.
Researchers are now looking at long-term cell phone usage, as Dr. Volkow explains:
“We need to rule out that there is a not long-lasting effect in healthy people. We don’t know what repeated exposure and artificial activation of the glucose will have on the brain.”
So the question remains: What are the long term effects of radiation emitted from cell phones on our brains?
Only time will tell as the research continues, but for now, we’ll take comfort in knowing cell phones aren’t going to make our brains explode anytime soon.
[Image via WENN.]