Mobile Phones and Health Hazards

Abstract

Background: Scientists have raised concerns that microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones may cause physiological damage. Experimental studies have suggested that low-level microwave radiation can induce DNA strand breaks in brain cells, which have been associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.

Methodology: The article reviews scientific evidence linking electromagnetic waves from mobile phones with potential brain damage and other health effects.

Results: The brain, because of its high water content, readily absorbs microwave radiation. Two principal mechanisms of injury are discussed: heating of tissues and alteration of cell membrane permeability, particularly affecting potassium and calcium ion transport. The review also highlights evidence of:

• DNA damage in experimental models.
• Memory impairment and neurological symptoms.
• Electromagnetic interference with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs), where digital cellular phones may trigger inappropriate sensing, high-voltage firing, or inhibition of pacing when held within 2.8–5.8 cm of the pulse generator.