June 15, 2006

Children using mobile phones are more vulnerable to psychiatric and behavioural problems or impaired learning abilities than adults due to their thinner skulls, developing nervous system, greater absorption of stimuli and longer lifetime exposure of radiation to the brain tissues, writes Shahnaz Akhter

“My father gave me this mobile phone for my birthday. It’s the latest model and has many functions like games, Internet connection, capacity to store nine albums and lots of music on a memory card.” “Your father really loves you; I will ask mine for the same model.” This conversation was overheard between two boys about eight to ten years old.

Mobile phones have become a status symbol. A plunge in their prices have made them easily accessible. It is not a rare site to see cobblers, sweepers, roadside vendors and even beggars using the cellphones.

The use of mobile phones has increased manifold over the past two decades. Almost 500 million people are using cellphones globally. According to an estimate, Pakistan’s mobile phone population will increase and touch the 10 million mark from the existing 6.8 million by the end of this year. This rapid increase in the number of people using cellphones has raised enormous concerns throughout the world.

One of the most well known and perhaps the most dangerous effects of cellphone usage is the transmission of microwaves to the user’s brain. Similar to a microwave oven, the waves emitting from a cellphone heat the brain cells. Some parts of the human brain are more sensitive to damage due to the increase in temperature by the microwave radiation. Children using mobile phones are more vulnerable to psychiatric and behavioural problems or impaired learning abilities than adults due to their thinner skulls, developing nervous system, greater absorption of stimuli and longer lifetime exposure of radiation to the brain tissues.

In addition to this many mobile phone users report several unspecified symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness, loss of concentration, memory loss, headaches and uneasiness.

Cellphones have an adverse effect on the social behaviour of people as well. The ring tones of some phones are highly annoying, especially in public places such as restaurants, cinemas and offices where people prefer a quiet environment. Some people do not switch off their phones even in places where its use is forbidden such as libraries, classrooms, hospitals and funerals.

Cyber bullying i.e. sending offensive text messages is becoming a social problem. Due to anonymity of such messages, it is very hard to trace them. Pornography is becoming available through the blue tooth device that is featured in some phones.

The use of cellphones while driving is a growing menace which has resulted in a number of accidents. Unfortunately, it is considered stylish by some to drive while talking on the phone. One can find many drivers with one hand on the steering wheel and the other busy dialing numbers. Such antics may look macho but cause ‘attention blindness’ because dialing requires concentration and thus diverts attention from the road. Moreover the perceptual and judgmental performance of the driver is also lessened because sometimes the conversation requires retrieving written information, taking notes and examining a paper or a map.

Scientists have reached a consensus on the harmful effects of cellphones on users’ health and their social behaviour. However, due to the fast paced lifestyle of today and the growing needs of mobility, people are not ready to part with this useful gadget.

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