Should mobiles have health warnings?

Disclaimers, warnings, notices, are everywhere we look. Food has traffic light information, cigarettes have big warning signs… will mobile phones join them?

A city in the USA has already started what might be a new trend and added a health warning on cell phones. The industry fought back and took them to court, then appeals, and the issue will continue.

Berkeley’s municipal council wants the following warning displayed in shops:

To assure safety, the Federal Government requires that cell phones meet radio frequency (RF) exposure guidelines. If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is ON and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation. This potential risk is greater for children. Refer to the instructions in your phone or user manual for information about how to use your phone safely.

Could this become the norm? Should it?

There is mounting evidence about mobile phone radiation and its health effects – linked to cancer, developmental disorders in children, electromagnetic sensitivity and male infertility. New studies are regularly coming out, with shocking statistics like sperm count drops 50% with four hours of use.

That study calls for further, large scale research, as do many others. In the meantime, should the public be warned about the potential health threats? History has shown time and time again with different public health threats that these issues can easily be ignored – and result in terrible outcomes.

So it’s very possible that in order to stay on the right side of history more and more public organisations, councils and governments will start using these warnings. Which will lead to more and more people learning about the dangers of mobile phone radiation and how to protect themselves.

Would you like to see warnings on sales of mobile phones? Should there be more information about health threats?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below!