If you have ever wondered whether living near a mobile phone tower or using your cellphone for long hours could increase your risk of developing a brain tumour, you are not alone. The belief that cellphone radiation causes cancer has persisted for years. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr.
Sunny Jain, Clinical Director and Head, Medical Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals Faridabad, explains why this is a myth and what science says about radiofrequency radiation.
“So far, there is no science or theory that shows or proves by any means that mobile towers in your vicinity or using cell phones can cause brain tumours . Again, this is all self-driven facts and figures or beliefs that patients keep spreading from one person to many in society. This is known as corridor knowledge. Jain. (Also read: Want to lose fat and build muscle? Such genetic damage can cause mutations, which may contribute to the development of cancer. Radiofrequency waves emitted by mobile phones and towers, however, are classified as non-ionizing radiation. A cell phone tower is a receiving and transmission apparatus for our mobile phones. The communication between mobile phones and towers occurs in the form of radiofrequency waves. These genetic mutations can further manifest in the form of cancer. However, radiation emitted from mobile phone towers or cell phones is radiofrequency waves, and these are forms of non-ionising radiation. Non-ionizing radiation does not have enough power to penetrate our body’s cells and damage their DNA,” Dr. Jain adds. The possible health effects of radiofrequency exposure have been studied extensively across the world. Jain, global research, including comprehensive reviews by the World Health Organization and large-scale tracking such as the COSMOS study , has not established a causal link between mobile phone towers, cellphone use and brain tumours. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Fitness coach shares 4 simple things to focus on for better body composition ) Ionizing radiation has enough energy to penetrate cells and damage DNA. “Many patients visiting my OPD often ask the question, could they have gotten cancer due to exposure to waves or radiation from being near a cellphone tower? Because ionizing radiation can penetrate the body and damage the DNA in cells, “Certain types of radiation are harmful to our body.
So, this is what is known as myth,” says Dr. Radiofrequency waves are a type of radiation,” he says. According to Dr.
