Mobile phones : Are they always user-friendly? 

Every day, we are swimming in a sea of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) produced by electrical appliances, power lines, wiring in buildings, and a slew of other technologies that are part of modern life. Technology in the 21st century has made it easier for people to get along with their day-to-day lives while we expose ourselves to an invisible killer. One particular threat arises from EMR emitted by mobile phones mainly through the handsets and from the tower-based antennas carrying the signals. Studies have linked this EMR to development of brain tumours, genetic damage and other exposure-related conditions. Realizing the fact that many Sri Lankans have the habit of staying glued to their phones, the Daily Mirror Life spoke to a few individuals to listen to their side of the story.

Dilshani

They should use mobile phones only for what is needed. But today we see people using it like a computer because it has many apps. The radiation it emits is not good for your health.

Nilanka

Mobile phones have really made life easier for all of us and today we see that even children are using them. In fact my nephew who is just 8 years old has taught me how to use many apps in my phone. It has an addictive factor which is dangerous.

Suren

There are always two sides for everything and likewise the use of mobile phones too has its pros and cons.

Sandali

Mobile phones have become the new interface of interaction. Personalized face-to-face approaches have died down, paving the way for technological advancements including mobile apps.

Sachini

Heavy usage of mobile phones exposes our eyes to vision problems. Nowadays people use their phones for social networking, messaging, gaming and various other purposes which cause more strain to their eyes as they stare in to the screens. So this can pave the way for serious eye problems in future.

Professor Girish Kumar

Sending in an exclusive comment to the Daily Mirror Life, Professor Girish Kumar at the Electrical Engineering Department, IIT, Bombay said that his message to the youth is that the overuse of any technology is bad. “Overuse of cell phones lead to hearing loss, headache, sleep disorder, lack of concentration, memory loss, infertility and even brain tumor. World Health Organization (WHO) has classified cell phone as Possibly Carcinogen (Class 2B) in May 2011. In the last 4 years, more evidences of health hazards have been reported as affect is cumulative in nature. Scientists from around the world are recommending to the WHO to classify it as Probable Carcinogen (Class 2A).

Professor Kumar works on areas such as Micro strip Antennas and Arrays, Broadband Antennas and Microwave Integrated Circuits and systems. He has written more than 250 papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings. He is an author of the book titled “Broadband Micro strip Antennas” published by Artech House, USA in 2003 and has also filed 5 patents. He has been working on hazards of microwave radiation for the last one decade and has written several reports and given presentations at various forums on topics related to Cell Phone and Tower Radiation Hazards and Solutions. He is also the chairman of Wilcom Technologies Pvt. Ltd., which is an IIT Bombay incubated company formed through the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE).

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photograph of Nilanka by Nisal Baduge