Monday, March 12, 2012

Children and teens more vulnerable to radiation


MUMBAI: Research shows children are more vulnerable to cellphone/tower radiation as their immune system is not as well developed as adults. Pregnant woman and foetuses are vulnerable because radio frequency (RF) radiations continuously react with the developing embryo and increasing cells. Microwave radiation can damage the placental barrier.

Studies confirm that cellphone radiation can drastically affect male fertility, decreasing semen quality and sperm count. Studies have found 30% sperm decrease in intensive mobile phone users, in addition to damage of sperms.

Cellphone frequencies can also lead to damaged DNA, leading to tumours and cancer. DNA damage in brain cells can affect neurological functions and also possibly lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

RF exposure from mobile phones and cellular phone base antennas can also affect patients carrying a pacemaker, implantable cardiovascular defibrillators (ICDs) and impulse generators. The signals generated by cellphones cause electromagnetic interference with the device and interfere with its proper functioning.

Non-thermal effects of RF radiation accumulate over time and the risks are more pronounced after several years of exposure. Prolonged or chronic exposures is harmful even at low intensities.

Radiation from cell towers and mobile phones affects human skin. The radiation degrades the immune system and stimulates various allergic and inflammatory responses, causing itch and pain.

The radiation emitted by cellphones can damage delicate workings of the inner ear and long-term intensive cellphone use for more than four years and for periods longer than 30 minutes in a day are at a higher risk of developing hearing loss.

Today, more and more people between 18 and 25 years are suffering from hearing loss, which doctors say is due to excessive use of cellphones and other gadgets. Anyone who spends two to three hours on the cellphone every day runs the risk of partial deafness over three to five years. Frequent cellphone use can also damage the visual system and cause tumour of the eye.

Exposure to EMR reduces melatonin levels in humans. Melatonin, a vital natural neuro-hormone is a powerful antioxidant, antidepressant and immune system enhancer that regulates our circadian rhythm. At night, melatonin levels rise. Studies with animals show a reduction in melatonin levels following radiofrequency radiation exposure from cell phones and cell sites. Turning off the transmitters resulted in a significant increased melatonin levels within a few days.

Lack of melatonin leads to sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, depression, cardiac, reproductive and neurological diseases and mortality. Reduced melatonin is also associated with increased DNA damage and increased risk of cancer, arthritis, seasonally affective disorder (SAD), schizophrenia, increased eye stress, renal impairment, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and increased risk of childhood leukemia.
Electromagnetic fields have been shown to affect the brain physiology. Use of cellphones before bed delays and reduces sleep, and causes headaches, confusion and depression. The findings are especially alarming for children and teenagers, causing mood and personality changes, depression, lack of concentration and poor academic performance. Exposure to electromagnetic fields has shown to be in connection with Alzheimer's disease, motor neuron disease and Parkinson's disease.

Severe reactions include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke. Heavy use of mobile phones can cause cancer. Use of mobile phones for over 10 years give a consistent pattern of increased risk for brain cancer (glioma and acoustic neuroma). Children and teenagers are five times more likely to get brain cancer as their brain is not fully developed. It is possible that today's young people may suffer an 'epidemic' of the disease in later life.

Besides increase in brain tumour and acoustic neuroma, there is an increased risk of several other types of cancers following prolonged exposure to mobile phone/tower radiation, such as, salivary gland tumours, uveal melanoma, lymphoma, facial nerve tumours, skin, blood, testicular and breast cancer. Interphone study in May 2010 has also found a 'significantly increased risk' of some brain tumours for heavy users of mobile phones over 20 minutes per day) for a period of 10 years or more. This is later substantiated by International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC), part of WHO ( World Health Organization) in May 2011.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Children-and-teens-more-vulnerable-to-radiation/articleshow/12225878.cms

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