Telephonic Radiation

Akshay Nuthalapati
Independent Research G/T
2018-2019

Title:​ Telephonic radiation: A Suppressed Problem

Overview:

My research is about radiation emitted from cell phones and how they can affect the human

body.

Background/History of the Issue:

The topic of cell phones causing cancer and brain tumors has been a contentious issue ever since

the first cell phone was released to the public. When the public first received the phone, they

were speculative about it, but people got over​ it. Cell phones give off nonionizing radiation.

While holding the phone up to the ear, the tissue will absorb the energy and might turn into a

tumor. Another negative effect of radiation from cell phones is that it may be a possible cause of

brain changes that are linked to ADHD. This topic of cell phone radiation interests me because I

was fearful of the effects that a phone could have on me. I used to not bring my phone anywhere.

When I would carry it around, I would keep it in airplane mode, which was proved to emit less

radio frequency waves. I chose this topic because I was interested in cell phone radiation and I

was affected by the issue first hand.

Rationale:

I feel that this phone issue is not only relevant to me, but is also important to other people in my

age group. Most people feel that cell phones don’t emit enough radiation to harm people, but

slowly they can grow strong and cause tumors in the brain. The FCC has made changes to the
maximum amount of watts per kilogram. More proof that cell phones are harmful is because rats,

a species known to have correlation with human behavior and reactions, had unique reactions to

radiation. In a recently conducted experiment, rats were the subjects of GSM phones in order to

examine the effects on them. As a result, the rats’ brains were damaged severely and the cells

experienced death. I see people around me using cell phones a lot, but I try to refrain from that.

With more and more research coming ​out every year about the effects of radiation on the brain,

there is information that supports my hypothesis and information that does not. This issue is

important because cell phone radiation can affect almost everyone.

Miscellaneous:

Operational Definitions:

● Regular use: In terms of “regular use of cell phones” as stated in my hypothesis and

research question, I am referring to daily use or around three hours a day of cell phone

use.

● Adolescents: In terms of “specifically by adolescents” as stated in my hypothesis, I am

referring to ten to nineteen year olds.

Descriptors Used for Literature Search:

● Cell phone radiation

● Phone radiation and influence on brain tumors

● Average adolescent phone use

Citations:

1. Mooney, Carla. ​Thinking Critically: Cell Phones​. ReferencePoint Press, 2014.

2. Morgan, K. "Radiation from cell phones hurts rats' brains. (Hold the Phone?)." ​Science
News​, 22 Feb. 2003, p. 115. ​Science In Context​,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A98977982/SCIC?u=elli29753&sid=SCIC&xid=b35
bd7be.