HOW TO MINIMIZE THREE CELL‑PHONE RISKS (from Consumer Reports)
Research is continuing on two potential cell‑phone hazards: the risks of using a handheld phone while driving and the possible health effects of absorbing the electromagnetic energy a cell phone radiates. In May 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission drew attention to a third type of hazard: overheating of cell‑phone batteries or chargers. Responding to scores of incidents, some of them causing burns, the commission issued safety recommendations for cell‑phone users.
Here is the latest advice on how best to protect against those potential hazards:
DON'T DRIVE AND TALK
Using a handheld phone is now illegal in three states‑Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York‑plus the District of Columbia and several cities, including Chicago. Some 30 other states are considering similar laws. Banning handheld use while driving has been backed by studies showing the practice to be hazardous.
However, there's growing evidence that it may be no safer to talk on a cell phone using a hands‑free device than it is to do so using a handheld phone. For example, an Australian epidemiological study published in an August 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal concluded that using a hands‑free device with a cell phone didn't reduce the risk of a serious road crash. And a study published in the March 2003 issue of The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, found accident risks equally high for both hands‑free and hands‑on callers.
For safety's sake, pull your car over to a shoulder or other safe place off the road before making a call.
REDUCE RADIATION EXPOSURE
Scores of studies have reported a range of effects of cell‑phone radiation on living things, but their health significance remains unclear. Two upcoming studies should shed more light on the subject: a 13‑nation analysis by the World Health Organization, which is expected to be completed early this year, and an animal study by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, which is scheduled for release in several years. The preliminary findings from the WHO study suggest little or no risk of brain cancer in the first 10 years of cell‑phone use, but risks from exposure longer than 10 years haven't been ruled out. If you're concerned about radiation, you can follow these precautions:
* Use a hands‑free device, such as a headset or speaker phone, to keep the phone's antenna away from the head and body.
* Limit use by children and teens. Encourage them to wear a headset or send text messages, both of which keep the phone away from the head.
AVOID CELL‑PHONE FIRES
Our engineers and the CPSC offer these safety tips for cell‑phone batteries:
* Keep the battery away from contact with metal, such as coins, keys, or similar objects in your pocket, which could cause it to short‑circuit.
* Buy only the battery and charger designed for your phone, from your wireless provider or a reputable retailer. An unusually inexpensive battery or charger carrying what appears to be a brand name may well be a counterfeit and may not be properly manufactured.
e Keep the phone and battery away from sources of extreme heat, such as a stove, radiator, or glove compartment.
* Never sit on a battery. Exerting pressure on it can crush it, causing it to short‑circuit and overheat.
o If you drop a phone with a fully charged battery, there's a small chance it could overheat and explode. Leave it on the ground for a few moments to make sure there's no problem.
o Don't allow your phone or battery to get wet. The circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.
* Follow the phone manufacturer's instructions for charging.