Maine Legislator Calls For Cell Phone Cancer Warning Labels

It's still unproven, but many have said we should err on the side of caution. Thus, a Maine legislator is seeking to require cell phones sold in that state to carry warnings about the possibility that they may cause brain cancer.

There has been no consensus among scientists that cell phones do have the potential of causing cancer. Industry leaders dispute the claim, but on the other hand, they have a vested interest in arguing against the possibility that cell phones can cause users harm.

In fact, in 2008, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, warned his staff against such a possibility. In a memo, he said:

Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer. Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.

Some countries require cell phones to carry such warnings, but the U.S. is not among them. A similar effort is afoot in San Francisco, where Mayor Gavin Newsom wants his city to be the nation's first to require such warnings.

Maine Congresswoman Andrea Boland, D-Sanford, said numerous studies point to the cancer risk. As such, she has persuaded legislative leaders in the state to allow a proposal to come up for discussion during the 2010 session that begins in January. That session is usually reserved for emergency and governors' bills.

Under Boland's bill, manufacturers would have to put labels on cell phones and their packaging warning of the potential risk for brain cancer associated with electromagnetic radiation. The labels would recommend that users, and particularly pregnant women and children, keep cell phones away from their head and body.

The San Francisco proposal would go further. It would require the display of the "absorption rate level" of RF energy next to each phone in print at least as big as the price. That sort of information is something you can find, but not without looking hard.

While evidence is unclear, what is clear is that our bodies are bombarded by EM radiation and fields that they simply were not exposed to until relatively recently, in terms of our history. It seems unlikely that such radiation would have absolutely no effect on our cells.

And anyway, considering how people are glued to their cell phones nowadays, it's difficult to believe that any warning will stop them from buying a cell phone.