Well, the World Health Organization just came out and said cell phones may cause cancer, listing them in the same category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.

Now, the jury is still out on whether cellphones pose a serious risk. But we do know that they emit cell phone radiation, which ain’t a good thing.

 

Here are the top 10 ways to reduce your exposure to cell phone radiation.

Use speakerphone or a headset

Speakerphone is ideal.

Using a headset is better than holding the phone against your face. But cell phone radiation still passes through both bluetooth and wired earpieces.

A safer option is an “air tube” earpiece. Instead of using a radiation-conducting wire all the way from phone to brain, these sets deliver sound through a tube.

Carry the phone away from your body

The best way to avoid exposure is to hold the cellphone away from the head or body.

Carry your phone in your bag, purse, in a wagon – anywhere except in your pocket or on your belt where soft body tissues can absorb cell phone radiation.

Texting is better than talking

When you text, your phone only needs to ping the cellphone tower for a moment – as opposed to a 15 minute phone conversation so it’s not emitting as much cell phone radiation.

Besides, who doesn’t prefer a txt over the dreaded voicemail?

Don’t call when signal is one bar or less

Fewer bars on your phone mean that it works harder and emits more cell phone radiation to get the signal to the tower. Make calls when your signal is strong.

Wait for the call to connect before putting it to your ear

Cellphones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers.

Keep kids off the phone

Children’s developing brains and tissues are thought to be most vulnerable to cell phone radiation. Health authorities in Britain, France, Germany and Russia have all issued warnings against allowing small children to use cellphones for extended periods, if at all.

Talk less!

In our age of distraction, sometimes it’s nice to just unplug.

Hang up when you buckle up

This one is a blow to me, because I love talking on the phone when I drive. But when you’re in a moving vehicle like a car or train, your phone repeatedly issues little bursts of radiation to connect with towers as it moves in and out of range.

Get a phone with a low SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)

In other words, a low radiation cell phone. My beloved iPhone doesn’t make the cut, but I think we’ll see many more options in the future.

Here’s CNET’s guide to the 20 lowest-radiation cell phones.

Use a land line

Old school, I know. But this is by far the safest way to talk on the phone. I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of nostalgic for the days when there was just one family phone.

What do YOU think about cell phone radiation?

Will the WHO announcement change the way you use your cellphone?

Sources:

  • http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/index.html
  • http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/17/5-ways-to-reduce-cell-phone-radiation/
  • http://www.emf-health.com/articles-10tips.htm
  • https://www.ewg.org/research/cellphoneradiation/5-Safety-Tips

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