The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: Pink Sherbert Photography

When the report came out last week that cell phone use is linked to an increased risk of brain tumors (why this was buried in the Living section of The Huffington Post and the Business section of the LA Times, I don’t know — seems like important news to me), my first thought was Wow, we’re really screwed. It doesn’t matter if I eat organic or eschew plastic containers or get eight hours of sleep a night if the electromagnetic radiation from something that I and 87 percent of Americans hold up to our heads every single day is going to negate all that.

Some say this study isn’t the be all and end all. According to the LA Times, the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute still maintain that there’s no hard evidence that using a cell phone will negatively impact your health. But why take a chance, right?

Thankfully the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is way ahead of the game, as usual. Yesterday, the group’s research team released its online consumer guide to cell phone radiation, which rates more than 1,000 mobile phones available in the US. I’m not so thrilled that my new Blackberry Curve made the top 10 highest radiation list, but you can bet I’ll be taking steps to minimize risk, like always using my headset or speakerphone, and embracing text whenever possible.

Check out the EWG’s interactive online guide to cell phone emissions (it’s free).

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: Contact your members of Congress and tell them that cell phone makers should be required by law to disclose each phone’s radiation output on the label. Don’t know your senator/representatives? Click here.

Related posts:
Is your sunscreen safe?
Produce may be contaminated with toxic flame retardant

Like this post? Subscribe to The Red, White, and Green RSS feed