Cellphone Technology
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ImpactofCellphoneTechnologyonHealth.11.docxRunning Head: IMPACT OF CELLPHONE TECHNOLOGY ON HEALTH 1
IMPACT OF CELLPHONE TECHNOLOGY ON HEALTH 4
Impact of Cellphone Technology on Health
Introduction
The dynamics of communication has been influenced greatly by cell phone technology. Continuous advancements in technology have changed the usage patterns of the devices as well as how frequent it is used. The small computers make communication easy because a person can respond to someone else instantly. However, with all these benefits, the technology comes along with some negative impacts on the health of an individual or user of the device. Socially it affects interpersonal skills as well as health. This paper focuses on the impact of cell phone technology on health.
Cell phones depend on electromagnetic radiations to receive and transfer data. During data transmission, the device gives off harmful radiations, which affect human health. The radiations cannot be felt and when released, they penetrate the body affecting the DNA and structure of the human cell. (Borelli, 2013). Radiations are of different frequencies and wavelengths. Several diseases are induced by radiations such as infertility, hearing impairment, and brain tumors. Hearing impairment can result from loud disturbance. Tumors result when the tissues of the body grow abnormally. Cell phone radiations leads to the death of cells and during replacement by other cells tumors may develop. Some tend to be cancerous such as the malignant brain tumor while others are non-cancerous like the benign tumor.
Young children are at a greater risk than adults are because their skulls and neural systems are not fully developed. This increases the rate of absorption of the electromagnetic waves into their bodies. During the installation of the WLAN, a network is created through the use of a router and the connected devices communicate through the network. During data transmission, electromagnetic radiations are emitted and the presence of a child around may result in a major impact on the human physical structure of the child.
Cell phones not only carry important personal data but also germs that are harmful to the heath of a person. Most people who use cell phones tend to place them in different places where they may collect germs. A report from researches indicated that one in every six cell phones is contaminated with some sort of fecal matter. (Elsevier Health Sciences, 2011). This is probably because the owners of the phones do not wash their hands thoroughly with soaps after leaving the toilet. The bacteria found in some of the cell phones were the E. coli bacteria which is normally found in the fecal region. Ingestion of the bacteria leads to severe health problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Dirty hands also has different kinds of bacteria which can contaminate the phone. Thus upon sharing the phone with another person, the bacteria may be transferred leading to health problems if the person fails to clean his or her hands thoroughly.
The health of the eyes is also affected by bright screens and small texts. Since most cell phones are handheld which means that their viewing is at a close range, the user is required to constantly focus and reposition the device to process the text and graphics on the screen. According to the Vision Council, most people in the United States spend six to eight hours a day glued to their smartphones. As the frequency and length of usage time increases, the greater the potential of getting vision problems. (Borelli, 2013). Irritation and redness of the eye result from eye strain. Blurred vision, neck pain as well as headaches are also associated with the too much use of cell phones.
Traffic hazards are also associated with cell phone usage. Some people do not realize the dangers accompanying with using a cell phone while driving. In most countries, almost 60 drivers talk once on their phones within a week when driving. The usage may be receiving a call, sending a text message or replying to an email. Such activities hold the attention of the driver more than any other distractors. The driver ends up paying less attention to the road, which can be dangerous (Borelli, 2013). The younger drivers who are around their early and late 20s pose the highest levels of cell phone distractions leading to a high rate of fatal accidents. The blame does not only fall on the drivers but also pedestrians who are always on their phones.
Conclusion
Despite cell phones making communication easy due to their wireless nature, they also have several health effects on humans. Their dependence on electromagnetic waves has been associated with hearing impairment and the development of tumors. They also carry along with germs, cause traffic hazards and also vision problems. Strategies to reduce health impacts should be implemented. For instance, cell phones should be severally cleaned with disinfectants to kill germs. The vision problems may also be reduced by monitoring the distance between the phone and the eyes. Drivers should also take precautionary measures and avoid using cell phones while driving.
References
Borelli, L. (2013). 5 Reasons Why Cellphones Are Bad For Your Health. Retrieved 30 September 2019, from https://www.medicaldaily.com/5-reasons-why-cellphones-are-bad-your-health-247624
Elsevier Health Sciences. (2011). Dangerous bacteria found on cell phones of hospital patients. ScienceDaily. Retrieved 30 September 2019, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531115416.htm
Naeem, Z. (2014). Health risks associated with mobile phones use. Retrieved 30 September 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350886/
