Could Wireless Radios Become the Next Tobacco?

It's hard to remember, but there was a time back in the 1950s and 60s when cigarettes were truly glamorous. No one really considered the potential health ramifications. The images below of James Dean and Frank Sinatra are iconic representations of an era that is now long gone. Since then, of course, people stared to die from diseases that smoking contributed to and we learned a lot about its health impact, including that of second-hand smoke.

 

Now flash forward to today. Our latest addiction? Wireless technology. It's everywhere. And, according to all known accounts, it's completely harmless. However if you look at the photos below (Lindsay Lohan and Harrison Ford), given the above context, is it conceivable things could change in a decade or two and that we might view these images differently?

If there's anyone who is an early candidate to get whatever wireless-induced disease may one day be in our future (if at all), it's me. I have had a cell phone since 1994. Today, the iPhone 3G I carry in my pocket, which rarely leaves my side, has any one or more of the following radios on at a given time: 2G wireless, 3G wireless, wifi, bluetooth and GPS. That's a lot of signals.

Last week Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, warned people to limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer. This is causing some parents to consider postponing when their children can have cell phones. This is probably just temporary panic fire. Still, the admonition certainly got me and others thinking.

Branko Miletic in Australia is following a similar thread, asking "Are Mobile Phones The New Cigarettes?" The answer today is a resounding "no." But I wonder what we'll say in 20 or 25 years.

I have no plans to stop using wireless technology. It's way way too integrated in my life. In fact, my iPhone is fast becoming my primary device. The rise of cloud computing will only accelerate the trend. But I do sometimes wonder about the fact that we don't know what we don't know. How about you?

Comments

[Paula Thornton]

Interesting premise, valid. Biggest gap: cigarettes are a vehicle for ingesting a drug (self-focused). Mobile is a vehicle for connecting to others, and is a critical element for conducting business (for some the latter is true of cigarettes!)

[Amanda Mooney]

We all have our vices and I don't think I'd ever be able to kick my mobile habit. Although the 3 hour battery life of my iPhone is definitely weaning me off total 24/7 reliance:)

[Steve Rubel]

@Amanda, try out these tips. They help.

[Prepostra]

Quote from a New York Mag article on a totally unrelated topic...

"We’re living in frontier country right now. We can take guesses at the future, but it’s hard to gauge the effects of a drug while you’re still taking it."

Sounds like a perfect fit for this issue

[gregorylent]

science is not the means for discovering the truth/untruth of this, it is too primitive.

we are the instruments to discover this.

every human being is incredibly different from his neighbor as to sensitivity.

chemicals, polyester shirts, sick buildings, auto exhaust, everybody has different sensitivity.

my cellphone signal, just checking into the tower, makes my usb speakers buzz.

there is clerly something physical happening, whether "science" can figure it out or not.

take radiation, science says we cannot feel it, but just ask any experienced industrial radiographer if he can feel if the pill is out, and he will say yes.

science is so often a joke, dependent on funding, that they really should not be given much credibility.

yes, we all will continue to use these tools, until something better comes along. try to be conscious about it

enjoy, gregory lent

[Amanda Mooney]

@Steve yup- tried out the tips you gave me and I didn't have any trouble with the battery lasting the entire day. Thinking a 3 hour limit may be healthier for me though ... especially after reading this post:)

[Andrew Foote]

Uplifting stuff, Steve. Thanks. Airplane mode now equals Health mode for me :)

I tried the battery tips as well and it's helped. Still, it's sad that the iphone makes you decide between listening to music for a few hours in the AM vs. having enough power to receive calls later in the day. Hopefully new versions of the software will address the power issue. Until then, i'll be using my ipod for longer listening.

[Anonymous]

Yes, discarded wireless radios will litter sidewalks and beaches. Children and senior citizens will die in house fires ignited when people listening to their wireless radio fell asleep. Convenience stores will card juveniles before selling them wireless radios. BY ALLAH'S WILL, IT SHALL ALL COME TO PASS.

[Reginald]

I have had this suspicion myself for some time.

It's a bit eerie to read someone else's post dictating my sentiments exactly.

Of course, I hope this is not the case. However, it doesn't change the fact that I still maintain this suspicion.

[Nick Stamoulis]

It seems that too much of ANYTHING can cause cancer these days. Until they show the full blown studies of it doing so (even then I may not care) I am going to continue to use my wireless devices. :)

[Free iPhone 3G]

Great article, really informative, great site too, will definetly be back for more, thanks =)

[Thomas]

Except cigarette smoke doesn't occur in nature and radiation at some level is constantly be exposed to us on a number of frequencies including the cell wavelength. Now I am not saying it doesn't warrant study and consideration, but I likewise am not convinced so far considering the number of studies done and many not by industry companies that have shown no connection. Baseless fearmonger is my bet, but I still say it should studied over the long term.

[Usher Lieberman]

One point, people did know back then that cigs were bad for you...as my dad said, back in the 40's everyone called them coffin nails.

[AUC]

I liked the informations on this micropersuasion site will bookmark for regular visit. Thanks!!

[Andrea Vascellari]

Hi Steve,

I've been wondering the same about wifi radiations.

http://www.andreavascellari.com/blog/?p=151

Andrea