August 22, 2005
Researches Find Mobile Phones Can 'Excite' Antigens
That wild claim that cell phones can give you a skin rash has made it in encylopedic About.com. Their entry is quite detailed and sounds well, convincing, with details on the clinical tests.
"In what researchers called surprising results, a study indicates radiation emitted by mobile phones may increase allergic reactions.
Dr. Hajime Kimata from Unitika Hospital, Kyoto, Japan believes microwaves emitted by mobile handsets can 'excite' antigens - substances which cause allergic reactions - in the bloodstreams of people who already suffer from allergies.
Dr. Kimata tested 52 people who had a history of allergies. They all watched a one-hour video -- half of them while talking on their mobile phones and the other half with their phones turned off.
"When we did blood tests we found that the mobile phones had raised the levels of certain chemicals in the blood which provoke allergic reactions such as eczema, hay fever and asthma," Kimata said. "We were surprised but we carried out a properly controlled study.
One group of patients had their phones turned on and receiving for an hour while they watched a video. The second group watched the same video while having their phones turned off so they couldn't receive calls. There was a significant increase in allergy levels which seemed to be linked to the use of mobile phones."
Related:
-- cell phones can give you a skin rash - Dr Hajime Kimata first found evidence that mobiles triggered skin allergies two years ago, but blamed it on ringtones. His latest study, published in the journal Allergy, appears to confirm the link - but disapointingly, doesn't mention ringtones as the cause - which made such a good story -, but exposure to microwaves.
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