Health Canada suggests we should “limit the length of cell phone calls”, especially those under 18

Canada has over 24.5 million wireless subscribers and Health Canada says that limiting the length of your calls is a healthy choice, especially those who are under 18. In addition, to possibly become healthier they are encouraging you to “replace cell phone calls with text messages or use hands-free devices”. These suggestions are from a Health Canada press release on “Practical Advice on Safe Cell Phone Use”. The report also noted a recent study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which indicated cellphones are “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. However, in a very unbiased manner, Health Canada stated “the scientific evidence is far from conclusive”.

Dr. James McNamee of Health Canada said “Really it’s more proactive in encouraging cellphone users to find ways to limit their exposure, and … to empower parents to make healthy choices to reduce their children’s exposure… We want to make people aware that there is some uncertainty in the science, particularly for children, because there have been no long-term studies, or very, very few long-term studies with children… They are often more sensitive to a variety of agents than adults. They’re not little people, in essence. Their brains are still developing, their immune systems are still developing. So you can’t say the risk would be equal for a small adult as for a child.”

Health Canada plans to update their safety guidelines, specifically health impacts of RF energy, in 2012.

Source: Health Canada
Via: Globe