Cell Phone Radiation Is Actually Not
For Us Now, It Prevents Brain Disorders
Yet another ridiculous study out of the University of South Florida
claims that cell phone radiation actually protects against brain
disorders rather than cause them.
It's another version of researchers promoting junk science at
its best. The ludicrous study only done in mice, suggests that
long-term exposure to electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) associated
with cell phones may actually protect against, and even reverse,
"It surprised us to find that cell phone exposure, begun
in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined
to develop Alzheimer's symptoms," said lead author Gary Arendash,
PhD, USF Research Professor at the Florida ADRC. "It was
even more astonishing that the electromagnetic waves generated
by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer's
The so-called researchers claim their study was "highly-controlled"
and that they isolated the effects of cell phone exposure on memory
from other lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. Yes folks,
we're talking about the lifestyle factors of mice, but you can
see where this is going.
So how did they achieve this magnificent feat you ask? Well,
when scientists can't get the results they want from animal testing,
they genetically alter animals to achieve favorable results. This
way, the biology of their lab rats is custom tailored to suit
the objectives and conclusions desired by the scientists and their
funding sources. It's actually very common and this study is no
It involved mice, most of which were genetically altered to develop
beta-amyloid plaques and memory problems mimicking Alzheimer's
disease as they aged. Think about what would happen if you radiated
a genetically modified potato that was designed to be different
that a potato found in nature. The cells of the genetically modified
(GM) potato could react very differently from the natural potato
to a given stimulus. They may be more susceptible or resistant
to the radiated dose depending on how the GM potato was designed
specifically for that purpose. The same principal can be achieved
The conditions of the experiment were also simulative as no practical
application on mice could ever mimic how humans use phones. The
mice didn't wear tiny headsets or have scientists holding cell
phones up to their ears; instead, their cages were arranged around
a centrally-located antenna generating the cell phone signal.
But wait, the researchers claim that they perfectly housed each
mouse the same distance from the antenna and exposed them to electromagnetic
frequencies typically emitted by a cell phone pressed up against
a human head. Huh? They exposed tiny little mice to the same EMF
as cell phones emitted to a human head? Wouldn't that expose the
mice to a lopsided amount of EMF comparitively by ratio if you
were to quantify the head mass of a human and that of a mouse?
Ok, perhaps they overlooked that this wouldn't be very applicable
Or maybe not. They stated they used memory tests on the mice that
were closely designed from a sensitive test used to determine
if Alzheimer's disease, or its very early signs (mild cognitive
impairment), are present in humans. "Since we selected electromagnetic
parameters that were identical to human cell phone use and tested
mice in a task closely analogous to a human memory test, we believe
our findings could have considerable relevance to humans,"
Arendash said. Hmmm, so Arendash is suggesting that a sensitive
test used to determine a complex human brain disorder like Alzheimer's,
can be reproduced in rodents? I would love to see that test.
They found that if cell phone exposure was started when the genetically-programmed
mice were young adults -- before signs of memory impairment were
apparent -- their cognitive ability was protected. Months of cell
phone exposure even boosted the memories of normal mice to above-normal
levels. The memory benefits of cell phone exposure took months
to show up, suggesting that a similar effect in humans would take
years if cell phone-level electromagnetic exposure was provided.
Are you starting to get the picture of how absurd this study and
its objective is? Perhaps we could genetically alter humans now
so they could boost their memory, protect their cognitive ability
and prevent brain disorders, all from a few years of dedicated
cell phone use.
Based on what the researchers claim are "promising and unexpected
findings" in mice, they concluded that electromagnetic field
exposure could be an effective, non-invasive and drug-free way
to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in humans. Wait, it gets
better. They are also now evaluating whether different strengths
of electromagnetic frequencies will produce a faster and even
greater cognitive benefit. So the stronger the EMF the greater
the benefit? I wonder if the heat in Florida makes researchers
The researchers also found increases in brain temperature during
the two one-hour periods when mice were exposed to electromagnetic
waves each day. This increase in brain temperature was seen only
in the Alzheimer's mice, and only after months of exposure. So
the normal mice didn't have an increase in brain temperature after
months of blasting them with high EMF doses? Those were some amazingly
resilient normal mice.
"Our study provides evidence that long-term cell phone use
is not harmful to brain," Dr. Cao said. "To the contrary,
the electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones could actually
improve normal memory and be an effective therapy against memory
I think Dr. Cao said it all. Improving memory and effective therapy
against impairment....who could ask for more right?
This is one of the most obviously senseless, illogical and foolish
studies I have ever seen. Not only is the construct of the study
absurd, but the researcher's discussions and conclusions are so
outlandish and unsupported, that they make global warming studies
actually look scientific. I find it very suspicious that not
even one of these authors had a disclosure statement. Another
disturbing fact was that this study was supported by Byrd
This is an obvious attempt by the cell phone industry to further
warp (literally) and sway public opinion on the detrimental health
effects of cell phone radiation which are increasingly catching
the media's attention.
Electromagnetic frequencies and radiation are emerging health
problem of the 21st century. "Cells in the body react to
EMFs as potentially harmful, just like to other environmental
toxins, including heavy metals and toxic chemicals," said
Martin Blank, PhD.
"Based on the existing science, many public health experts
believe it is possible we will face an epidemic of cancers in
the future resulting from uncontrolled use of cell phones and
increased population exposure to WiFi and other wireless devices.
Thus it is important that all of us, and especially children,
restrict our use of cell phones, limit exposure to background
levels of Wi-Fi, and that government and industry discover ways
in which to allow use of wireless devices without such elevated
risk of serious disease," said David Carpenter, MD.
"Radio frequency radiation and other forms of electromagnetic
pollution are harmful at orders of magnitude well below existing
guidelines," said Magda Havas, PhD.
"The overall problem with environmental electromagnetism
is much deeper, not only of concern at power line frequencies,
but also in the radiofrequency range encompassing mobile phones.
Here the publics continuing exposure to electromagnetic
radiation is largely connected to money. Indeed the tens of billions
of dollars in sales one finds in the cell phone industry makes
it mandatory to corporate leaders that they deny, in knee-jerk
fashion, any indication of hazard," said Abraham R. Liboff,
Next they'll be telling us that cell phone radiation can increase
your income, boost your love life and make you fly.
Marco Torres is a research specialist, writer and consumer advocate
for healthy lifestyles. He holds degrees in Public Health and
Environmental Science and is a professional speaker on topics
such as disease prevention, environmental toxins and health policy.
January 7, 2010