In this era of rapid technological development, mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives. From urban professionals to young adults, and even middle-aged and elderly individuals, almost everyone enjoys the convenience and entertainment provided by mobile phones.
However, in recent years, rumors about the potential cancer risk from mobile phone radiation have frequently appeared on social media, especially the claim that “charging your phone on the bedside while sleeping can cause cancer,” causing considerable panic among many people.
So, is this a scientific fact or just a baseless rumor? This article will delve into the truth about mobile phone radiation and provide you with peace of mind as you sleep.
I. Radiation: A Ubiquitous Natural Phenomenon
First, let’s understand radiation. Radiation refers to the way an object propagates energy outward by emitting electromagnetic waves or particles. It travels extremely fast, at the speed of light. Radiation is ubiquitous in our environment. Whether it’s the light we see, sunlight, or the sunlight we feel every day, they are essentially forms of radiation.
Radiation is classified into ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation based on its intensity and nature. Ionizing radiation, such as that produced by radioactive elements, nuclear reactors, and nuclear weapons, is highly intense and capable of affecting the electrons in atoms, potentially even damaging DNA, causing severe harm to the human body.
Non-ionizing radiation, which includes ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, light, and electromagnetic waves and microwaves produced by household appliances, is relatively low in intensity and insufficient to significantly affect atoms and electrons.
II. Mobile Phone Radiation: A Form of Non-Ionizing Radiation
The radiation emitted by mobile phones is a type of non-ionizing radiation. When we use a mobile phone, it communicates with base stations by emitting electromagnetic waves through its antenna.
These electromagnetic waves propagate through space and are eventually received by us and converted into sound, images, and other information. Due to the low frequency of the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones, their impact on human cells is also relatively small.
In fact, the frequency of mobile phone electromagnetic waves is far lower than visible light. This means that the penetration ability of mobile phone electromagnetic waves is also much weaker than visible light.
From an energy perspective, even when a mobile phone is in its maximum radiation state, the energy it releases is far lower than the red light in visible light. Therefore, it is unscientific to claim that mobile phone radiation can penetrate the skin and reach human cells, causing cell damage.
III. The Relationship Between Mobile Phone Radiation and Cancer
Since mobile phone radiation falls into the category of non-ionizing radiation and its energy is far lower than visible light, does it cause cancer? Currently, the scientific community has not reached a consensus on the relationship between mobile phone radiation and cancer.
However, based on existing research results, the direct link between mobile phone radiation and cancer is not evident.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an affiliate of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies mobile phone radiation as a Group 2B carcinogen.
This means that mobile phone radiation may have carcinogenic potential, but there is currently insufficient evidence to support this conclusion. In comparison, substances such as ultraviolet rays and formaldehyde have higher carcinogenic classifications than mobile phone radiation.
Additionally, the claim that “the right ear is closer to the brain, and frequently using the right ear to answer calls can lead to brain cancer” is also unfounded. In fact, the distance between the left and right ears to the brain is the same.
Moreover, even if mobile phone radiation could affect brain cells, its impact would be far lower than other known carcinogens.
