HEALTH SCIENTISTS, TECH EXPERTS WARN AGAINST GIFTING “SMART” PHONES, TOYS THIS HOLIDAY, NOTING RADIATION EXPOSURE RISK
Press Conference Call with former President, Microsoft Canada; Cancer Researcher, NIH Scientist on TUESDAY, Dec. 19th at 12 PM
This week, California Dept of Health issued guidance on reducing cell phone radiation
Washington, DC—In the final days of the holiday shopping season, medical and tech experts are warning parents against buying their children smartphones or Wi-Fi enabled toys, noting that they could pose serious health and safety risks according to experts. Parents are often unaware that these child-friendly devices emit radiofrequency radiation. Recent studies have found that this radiation—the same radiation we use to cook food—could be viewed as cancer-causing. This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued guidance for individuals and families who want to decrease their exposure to the radio frequency energy emitted from cell phones.
On Tuesday, December 19, tech and health experts will convene to discuss the serious threats that these devices pose to children and will offer tips for navigating the “safer” use of popular technology. Devra Davis PhD MPH, founder & president of Environmental Health Trust, Frank Clegg, former President of Microsoft Canada and CEO of Canadians for Safe Technology, and Ronald Melnick, PhD, a retired NIH scientist who led the design of the world’s largest study on cell phone radiation, will discuss how to reduce radiation exposure at home, talk about the toys that carry radiation and offer recommendations on how to make “smart” decisions when buying gifts for your family.
Numerous studies have linked cell phone radiation to cancer and other health problems, causing long-time advisors to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO/IARC) to argue that this radiation should be regarded as a human carcinogen causing glioma—the same type of brain cancer that affected Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain. The landmark $25 million U.S. NIH/NIEHS National Toxicology Program study found long-term that daily exposure to cell phone radiation led to cancers of the brain and heart nerve in male rats, as well as DNA damage. Studies in humans who have used cell phones up to their heads for over 10 years also found increases of the same types of cancers.
What: Press Conference Call
When: Tuesday, December 19th at 12pmET
Who: Devra Lee Davis, PhD MPH, President, Environmental Health Trust
Frank Clegg, former President, Microsoft Canada; CEO of Canadians for Safe Technology
Ronald Melnick PhD, Senior Toxicologist National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, retired
