I find it so amusing that unless their is scientific evidence many folks won't accept that "stuff" could possibly be harmful. I am not one of those who worries about things or complains BUT for years I use to think that all these radio towers, satellite dishes, micro waves, "stuff" in the atmosphere may possibly cause some problems.
TP:
There are usually negative ramifications when we use 'feelings' to make decisions that have no scientific basis in fact. The ramifications and too often, unintended consequences become much worse when politicians are passing laws, say, to outlaw cell phones because they allegedly 'cause' cancer, acoustic neuromas, whatever and have no scientific evidence to support such a position.
To be realistic,
life is a risk and almost
anything we do, from driving the commute to work at 70 miles per hour, to what we eat and so on offer
some degree of risk. Like you, I don't worry much about this and basically accept the risks, as we all do.
I started using a cell phone in the 90's but only when needed. However, I did use a telephone head set from a LAN line since the late 70's and had it up against my left ear for hours every day. What really concerns me is that young kids are using cell phones at such an early age and we have no idea what affect this may have on them down the road.
We have no idea of how the youthful pastime of incessantly playing video games will affect kids in the future. I'm sure that adults living in 1930 probably worried about the effect of broadcast radio waves coming into their homes every day, often for hours at a time. Science proved there was no risk. That happens a lot.
Smoking we know causes cancer. However, my husband's mom never smoked, never drank and got cancer in every organ and finally died of lung cancer in her 50's. My dad smoked for over 60+ years (2 packs daily) and quit recently. His lung Xray showed his lungs are healthy (thank you God). But let's face it .....GO FIGURE.
Anomalies occur in the medical field and non-smokers developing lung cancer is not unknown. Dana Reeve, widow of the late Christopher Reeve (of
'Superman' fame) died of lung cancer at age 44 (in 2006). She had never smoked. Lifelong smokers, like your father, do not automatically develop lung cancer. If they did, cigarettes would probably, finally, be made illegal. One hopes. The 'second hand smoke' theory remains clouded by dishonest 'studies' from the EPA (that draw conclusions,
then do the 'study') and is basically an unsubstantiated assertion based on 'feelings' i.e. 'if smoking is bad for you breathing 'secondhand smoke' must be bad, too'. Maybe, but passing anti-smoking laws based on feelings and politicians riding a wave of anti-smoking sentiment, is not a good idea. What next? Don't answer that.
I had my MRI the other day. The good news the little piece of tumor that is left has not grown any. I asked my Dr about cell phones. He said there is nothing scientific and not to worry. I told him I really don't worry about it but....I only have one ear left and I don't want to take that risk.
Then throw away your cell phone and move to an area that has no power lines, satellite dishes, microwave towers and whatever concerns you. Of course, I'm not serious. Just making the point that without scientific evidence, there is no basis for blaming cell phones for ANs. No more than blaming
anything for a medical condition that may have no actual relation to the problem. Fortunately, we're still a relatively free nation and we can individually do whatever we think is prudent to protect our health. I simply prefer to make some decisions - such as using a cell phone (I don't own one but my wife does) - based on scientific evidence, not amorphous feelings. But that's just me.
Jim
