Using bluetooth and wireless headphones Does it cause cancer?
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| Using bluetooth and wireless headphones Does it cause cancer? |
There are some accusations that wireless and bluetooth headphones can increase the risk of cancer.
In 2018, according to Healthline, 247 scientists from 42 countries expressed concern about the health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic waves (EMFs) emitted by wireless devices.
Scientists have warned that potential health risks from chronic exposure to EMF include cancer, genetic damage, neurological disorders, learning, memory deficits, reproductive problems, and more.
This appeal called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations to adopt stricter guidelines to protect people from the potentially harmful health effects of electromagnetic waves. Although there is substantial research on the health risks associated with EMF, few have included bluetooth or wireless headphones.
When we use Bluetooth and wireless headphones - as well as computers, cell phones, and even microwave ovens - they emit a certain type of EMF (not low-level) called radio frequency radiation (RFR). In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified this type of radiation as a carcinogen. Moreover, in 2018, research by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that exposure to high levels of RFR - such as what is used in 2G and 3G cell phones - can cause cancer in mice. In general, the amount of radiation emitted by bluetooth headsets is much less than that produced by a regular cell phone. However, the prolonged use of wireless devices is harmful to health.
There are some precautions you can take
All we can really do is take special precautions to avoid the potential health risks of using bluetooth headsets or any device that relies on electromagnetic waves.
"If you plan to make long phone calls, the safest alternatives are to use the speakerphone in your phone or wired headphones," advises the medical site "Healthline" according to Dr. Santosh Kesari, a neuro-oncologist and head of the neurosciences department at John Wayne Cancer Institute, California. The same goes for those who listen to music for hours on end every day. These precautions are especially important for children as they are more sensitive to radiation.
Moskowitz says other general precautions include keeping your cell phone a distance when you can, and only use it when the signal is strong, because poor reception emits more radiation.
It might be nearly impossible to completely avoid radiation these days, but we can all take some steps to reduce the amount we are exposed to on a regular basis. Although some suspect that chronic use of bluetooth and wireless headphones can cause cancer, it is still too early. Find out, and more research is needed.
