Cell phones lead to bone weakening

Mumbai Mirror - October 27, 2009

Wearing a cell phone on your belt may lead to decreased bone density in the area of the pelvis, a study in the September issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery has revealed.


Dr Tolga Atay and colleagues of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, measured bone density at the upper rims of the pelvis (iliac wings) in men who were mobile users and carried their phones on their belts. (The iliac wings are widely used source of bone for bone grafting, so any reduction in bone density may be of special importance to reconstructive surgery.) The results showed reduction in iliac wing bone density on the side where men carried their phones.
However, the researchers point out that the men were relatively young and that further bone weakening could occur within longer follow-up. The researchers believe that long term exposure to electromagnetic fields from cell phones could weaken the bone to such an extent that it could potentially affect the outcome of surgical procedures, which use bone grafts from that area. The results raise the possibility that bone density could be adversely affected by electromagnetic fields emitted from cell phones.
There is an urgent need for the development of new devices to absorb/reduce these radiation effects. Meanwhile, Dr. Atay and colleagues conclude: “It will be better to keep mobile phones as far as possible from our body during our daily lives”