Deseret News | Are cell phones causing damage to the brains of children?

Reader comments
My view: Are cell phones causing damage to the brains of children?

what about texting? | 6:44 a.m. Feb. 15, 2009

The story leaves out something important. I work in the public school system, and the majority of kids I see are texting or using bluetooth with their phones. Will that protect them if they don't have the phones up against their heads? As a parent of a child who will enter middle school in a few short years, I really need to have that question answered.

Also, if I use my car's bluetooth device when my kids are in the car, am I harming them? I would like to see more research on this subject.

ED | 7:53 a.m. Feb. 15, 2009

THE EFFECT AND ENERGY OF AN ELECTRO MAGNETIC FIELD SOURCE LIKE A CELL PHONE OBEYS THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW. IF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN AN EAR AND THE CORE OF A SMALL CHILD'S BRAIN IS SAY 3 INCHES, WHEN THE PHONE IS MOVED AN ADDITIONAL THREE INCHES AWAY (DOUBLE THE DISTANCE), IT WILL ONLY BE ONE QUARTER AS STRONG. IF WE TRIPLE THE DISTANCE, IT WILL BE ONE NINTH AS STRONG, AND SO ON. PHONES OVER A FOOT AWAY SHOULD NOT AFFECT ANYONE ADVERSELY DUE TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE FIELD AT THAT DISTANCE.

Texting is the answer | 8:29 a.m. Feb. 15, 2009

I keep hearing from stricter type parents, to not allow text messaging from phones. I am one who allows my kid to have test messaging and I think I am the wiser one.

Talking on a phone has potential to cause brain damage including cancer. When texting, people don't hold the phone up to their head.

My did does most of his communicating via texting.

Comments continue below

More questions | 8:43 a.m. Feb. 15, 2009

So what about cell phone towers on top of, for example, an elementary school? And what about a bluetooth's effect on an adult's brain?

No studies support... | 5:34 p.m. Feb. 15, 2009

but kids get 4x more tumors? where do they get that?

Anonymous | 7:08 p.m. Feb. 15, 2009

The inverse square rule says if you doouble the distance you have half the signal power.

Reason | 7:35 p.m. Feb. 15, 2009

I thought this particular health scare got debunked years ago. Why is it being repeated again?

Dr EEC | 6:48 a.m. Feb. 16, 2009

ANONYMOUS
MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO BACK AND RETAKE THAT MATH OR PHYSICS CLASS.
ONE OVER TWO SQUARED IS ON QUARTER. HENCE IT IS CALL THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW.

Dellner | 9:38 a.m. March 3, 2009

Don't be so mean.

Anonymous | 5:23 p.m. March 9, 2009

Governments in Israel, France, U.K., India and elsewhere are taking action to reduce, restrict or ban children's use of cell phones. The U.S. has fallen behind in efforts to protect public health on many fronts.

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