Is cell phone radiation harmful? A controversial discussion!
What is cell phone radiation? Cell phones and smartphones have become an integral part of our everyday lives. On the one hand, this is very practical, but on the other hand, according to experts, it is not always safe. How much radiation does a cell phone actually emit? Is cell phone radiation harmful? And how can you really prevent possible risks? Here you can find out everything you need to know about cell phone radiation.
What kind of radiation can be emitted by cell phones?
Different types of radiation come together in a cell phone:
- On the one hand, it is of course a device that emits electromagnetic radiation and can therefore increase electrosmog.
- Secondly, the cell phone connects to the nearest cell phone mast via high-frequency electromagnetic radio waves. This is done via various standards: GSM, UMTS, LTE and, more recently, increasingly via 5G technology. This generates radio waves, known colloquially as cell phone radiation, particularly when making phone calls.
And finally, smartphones are also very often connected to the WLAN, so their use also increases WLAN radiation.
As more and more cell phones are being registered and many people want good reception and stable Internet throughout the country, more and more mobile phone masts are needed and being built. For 5G, the density of the expansion will continue to increase significantly because the 5G frequencies of the individual masts do not reach as far as previous mobile communications standards. The rule is: the higher the frequency, the shorter the range. How many masts are needed also depends on the number of people who use them. The intensity and frequency of use is also decisive. The more cell phones want to access the network at the same time, the denser the system needs to be. This is why there is significantly more cell phone radiation in large cities than in rural areas.
When is cell phone radiation particularly strong?
Cell phone radiation is particularly pronounced when you are using your cell phone. Radiation levels are very high, especially when establishing a connection. You should therefore only hold the phone to your ear when it rings. The cell phone then establishes the connection and the radiation exposure decreases.
Even if the reception is poor and the cell phone is trying hard to connect, the radiation increases particularly sharply. This is why you should not make unnecessarily long calls when reception is poor. But even if you are not using your cell phone, the radiation exposure can be very high. This is especially true in large cities. The so-called SAR value of the cell phone is also decisive. The higher this value is, the more cell phone radiation is produced. You should therefore look for a low SAR value when buying a new device to reduce your exposure to radiation.
Incidentally, radiation protection films, which are sometimes sold to protect against cell phone radiation, can exacerbate the problem. They do indeed block some of the radiation through absorption. However, this worsens the reception and the cell phone adapts to this by increasing the radiation intensity. That’s why we at VIVOBASE take a different approach: instead of switching off or absorbing the radiation, our devices reduce the body antenna function. We explain how this works in more detail here.
How can cell phone radiation affect humans and animals?
Whether cell phone radiation can really have a negative effect on humans, animals and plants has not yet been conclusively clarified. Some studies and experts have found that cell phone radiation is harmless to living organisms. Other studies, however, assume a certain influence on organisms. We would like to give you an overview of the current state of research on this topic below.
At the end of 2024, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) published a total of three studies dealing with high-frequency electromagnetic radiation and its effects on an increased risk of cancer, oxidative stress and cognitive performance. As part of this meta-study, the scientists came to the conclusion that there is no increased risk to health from cell phone radiation. According to one of the authors of the study, however, some of the past studies used for this purpose had serious methodological flaws. There is therefore a great need for high-quality studies that confirm the relevant findings. From the author’s point of view, further studies are needed to finally clarify the extent to which cell phone radiation has an impact on our health.
As early as 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified radiation in the frequency range of cell phone radiation as “potentially carcinogenic”. There is still no real proof of this danger. But there are a whole series of studies that suggest a connection between cell phone radiation and the risk of illness. The CERENAT study, for example, which was carried out in France, caused quite a stir. The study investigated the link between the use of cell phones and the risk of brain tumors. One of the main findings was that people who use a cell phone frequently (at least 15 hours per month over five years) have an increased risk of tumors.
The differing results of the BfS and the CERENAT study already indicate that there is as yet no clear statement as to whether cell phone radiation can possibly have negative health effects. Further research is therefore needed to conclusively clarify this important question.
How can we prevent cell phone radiation at home and on the move?
Many people don’t want to do without the convenience of modern technology, but are unsure about the possible health consequences. These simple tips will help you to keep possible exposure to cell phone radiation as low as possible:
- Don’t talk on the phone for too long! Either keep calls short or use a headset or the room loudspeaker if it does take longer! Incidentally, almost all smartphone manufacturers now also recommend this in their operating instructions. Otherwise, it would hardly be possible for manufacturers to comply with the EU-wide limits.
- If reception is poor, you should keep calls particularly short.
- If possible, do not carry your cell phone in your trouser pocket or close to your body, but in a bag or rucksack! The further away from your body you carry it, the better.
- Do not cover the antenna of your cell phone when making calls, otherwise it will radiate even more to compensate for the poor reception. Don’t know where the antenna is on your phone? The operating instructions for the device or a Google search will quickly help.
- At night, you should put your cell phone as far away from the bed as possible, banish it completely from the bedroom or set it to flight mode. Then it will no longer emit any radio signals. The alarm function also works in flight mode.
If you don’t need a network on your smartphone at the moment, switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth! This avoids a lot of radiation, especially when making phone calls.
