Human and Environmental Impact Assessment of Common Cell Phone- A review

Abstract

In this study, the effect of common cell phones on humans and on the environment is investigated using open literature survey approach. Many definite risks are posed by radiation from wireless connection, cellular telephones and electronic devices. These risks appear to be minimal but are quite inimical in the long run. Also the unsustainable approach towards management of the discarded phone waste in developing nations is also highlighted. In this paper, radiations from' common phones are studied and the health effects of such radiations are also discussed. Possible recommendations to prevent the effect of these radiations - related health problems were also highlighted. Currently, there are some significant attention on the public concern over the potential adverse health effects of mobile phones on its user and/or at the base stations. It is a common knowledge that mobile phone wastes have the potential to generate significant environmental impact since these mobile phones contain toxic and rare substances in its constituent materials. Virtually no home is without a cell phone. Calls are made at will and these all home products are used from second to second without any recourse to the many potential dangers they can pose. The human tissue is sensitive to radiations of all kind. They affect the human cells and organ in one-way or the other. Some of the effects are always of the long run type and may not be noticed immediately. In the literature, it has been reported that these phone waste and cause serious harm to human and environment if not properly managed (1). The toxic substance accruing from mobile phones can pollute into the air, soil, water and on the environment. It has been established that the main component of the charger is print wiring board (PWB) which are mostly composed of hazardous substances including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Au), cadmium (Cd), and dioxins (2-3). Most of these toxic substance can be retained in the environment either directly or indirectly, thereby posing serious threat to man and the environment. Some of the major challenges associated to mobile phone wastes management especially in third world countries include; recycling, redesign of mobile phones and their accessories to facilitate reuse, and proper and sustainable waste disposal methods. The negative consequences of unsustainable waste management to man and to the environment has been widely reported in the literature (4-13). In a related development, the producers of cell phone assert that every phone it sells meets radiation safety limits set by the government. However, recent tests conducted by ABC's news program and National Radiological Protection Board (14-15), indicate that most of the popular phones can far exceed the government radiation standards depending upon, how they are held. The signals transmitted and received by your cell phone are the same type of wave that is used in your microwave oven or by a doctors x-ray machine and, although these waves are not as strong, the waves received/transmitted by your phone is strong enough to travel over 50 miles (12, 15-16). Depending on how close the cell phone antenna is, as much as 60% of the microwave radiation is absorbed by and actually penetrates the area around the head (17-18). In most cases the bone of an adult skill can block most of the radiation that is created from other devices. The problem with cell phone is that it is normally held directly to one of the areas of the head which have the least amount of-protection, the ear canal/drum/ near the chest (when cell phone are placed in pockets of shirts), near the gonads (when cell phone are placed in pockets of trousers) etc. This makes it possible for majority of the