I know the studies that have been done on cell phone radiation have been inconclusive up to now, but I'd that I should try to minimize my exposure anyway.  What i'm wondering is if cell phones emit any radiation when they are off.  I always thought they didn't, but I remember someone telling me that they did.  How about when they're in standby?  If they do emit radiation in these states, is it the same amount as when you're talking or is it reduced?  And couln't theoretically get cancer in any part of your body depending on where you put your phone?  If you put in your pocket, would you be suspectible to colon cancer or something?
 
What I tend to do to try minimizing my exposure is using a hand's free headset when I can and keeping the phone on a desk or something.   I remember reading that the amount of radiation you pick up by the phone is greatly reduced as you get just a little farther away from the phone.  
 
And finally, do those radiation protector things they sell at the supermarket and pharmacies work?  I bought one that's called "Ear Guard" and it says "protective net" underneath it.  It sticks to your ear piece with an adhesive and has a sort of net that allows you to still hear through the phone.  It claims that it blocks 99% of radiation or something.  I sort of doubt the effectivness of this product because it seems like all it covers is the earpiece, still leaving the rest of your body susceptible to radiation.  I don't remember what exactly it was made up, however.  I believe there is some sort of gel in it, but I don't remember exactly.  I figured I'd just ask some of you guys if anyone has any information.

Your tin foil hat is crooked.
 
<font color=blue>Hi mom!</font color=blue>

Too late. He has been nuked.
 
 
  <b><font color=blue> I took an I.Q. test today...It came back negative.</font color=blue></b>  

ok, so you can stop making fun of me and give me some sort of answer?

You want a answer to an inconclusive radiation study to see if a device that is on the market
will protect you from something that hasn't been proven to be harmful. If that is the question,
who knows.
 
  <b><font color=blue> I took an I.Q. test today...It came back negative.</font color=blue></b>  

Well it undisputed that cell phones emit radiation.  The question that hasn't been answered is if that amount of radiation is enough to cause cancer.  What am I asking is if those aftermarket devices are effective in blocking radiation, so that way I don't have to worry about the potential risk for cancer if indeed that amount of radiation is indeed enough for cancer.  
 
I believe I had some other legitamite questions as well.  I wanted to know if cell phones emitted radiation if they were off or in standby mode.  
 
Sure, nothing has been proven yet, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.  That's why I'ma asking these questions.

Sometimes it really can't hurt to think or check your sources.  I realize that you're being laughed at, but there is a good reason for this.  No radiation is emitted that can possibly hurt you.  If you are worried about radiation from a cell phone then you better be careful since the sun emits more harmful radiation than your cell phone.  You should probably consider changing your diet, staying inside, and living in a bubble if you truly want to avoid cancer.  The cell phone is the least of your worries.
 
Seriously, think before you post an <A HREF="http://www.urbanlegends.com/medical/cell_phones_brain_cancer.html" target="_new">urban legend</A>.  A tin foil hat is not going to help you.
 
 
<font color=red>THGC: Everything from anal applications of peanut butter to marriage counseling</font color=red>

<A HREF="http://www.privateline.com/health/moulder.html" target="_new">http://www.privateline.com/health/moulder.html</A>
 
<A HREF="http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4132-2101F5B-394EB817-prod1" target="_new">http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4132-2101F5B-394EB817-prod1</A>
 
<font color=red>THGC: Everything from anal applications of peanut butter to marriage counseling</font color=red>

Yeah, those are the thing I have read, but the thing is there has been really no long term studies.  What stands out in my opinion, is that back in the early 20th century and 19th century cancer rates were much lower than they are now.  There are probably a few reasons for this such as use of pesticides, increased air travel, and the dramatic increase in all types of electronics.  We're obviously doing something that is causing a great increase in cancer rates, and I believe it's reasonable to assume that cell phones could just be another device to add to the ever growing list of things to worry about.  Some people point out that microwaves also emit radiation but not everyone who uses a microwave ends up with cancer.  I'm not disupting this, but the fact that we're just constantly incresaing our exposure to all sorts of carcinogens is a bit disturbing.

So stay inside all the time, since (as dhlucke said) the sun gives out the most radiation.
 
You're chasing away the squirrels on the sidewalk and ignoring the large bear sitting in your armchair.
 
<font color=blue>Hi mom!</font color=blue>

you're missing the point, for thousands of years cancer hasn't been as prevalent as it is now.  And not because they stayed inside the whole day (they probably spent more time outside than we do) but because they exposed themselves to less carcinogens than we do.  of course there's no way to totally avoid all of these potential risks, but I'm just saying why not avoid them when you can.
 
 
oh yeah btw, I don't spend much time in the sun anyway, not because i am constantly worrying about getting a cancer, but just thinking about my lifestyle, I end up spending more time inside than outside, which I'm sure is true for many other people nowadays.  
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by henryo11 on 05/08/02 06:10 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

Wow, you're scaring me.  You really should get out more. That's very unhealthy.  The body needs to be exposed to fresh air and green vegetation.
 
If you want to avoid cancer, live in the country and get plenty of fresh air and exercise, don't smoke, don't eat packaged foods but rather grow your own food, and please stop stressing about completely stupid stuff.
 
If something is going to kill you, it's going to be a heart attack, not cancer.
 

 
Let me explain some basic physics to you.  Light, the stuff coming from the sun, is radiation.  Depending on the wavelength of the photons, we designate it a different type of radiation ranging from very powerful and narrow gamma rays to very long radio waves.  So if you're worried about radiation in general, you're sol.  You're constantly bombarded with all kinds of radiation and cosmic rays.  The microwave does emit radiation.  Microwave radiation.  It's well shielded and you don't have to worry about it.  The doses are very low.  When you get an x-ray you're bombarded by x-rays.  These are bad for you, which is why they shield you with lead and don't expose you for very long.  Nuclear bombs emit all kinds of horrible radiation which is what kills those not hit by the blast.  Your TV emits radiation as does your 900 MHz phone.  The reason you wear sunscreen is to avoid a sunburn, and that's caused by UV waves.  As long as you’re worried about radiation, why not worry about electric and magnetic fields?
 
If you're truly worried about cell phones then I would suggest the following:
 
Find an old mine shaft, a deep one, and move there.  Don't use any type of electronics, and don't ever ever go outside.  You'll unfortunately still be hit by neutrinos, but hey, you'll have ellimated all other radiation right?
 
Cancer is your worry (carcinogens) and cell phones are not the problem.  It's lazy people who don't go outside and receive a healthy dose of sunlight and exercise, people who eat poorly, smoke, and are exposed to wastes in their environment like smog and preservatives in their food.  Your monitor, cell phone, and microwave will not give you cancer.  Go outside and live your life!
 
 
<font color=red>I have a computer and it does weird stuff. please help.</font color=red>

I belive his tin foil hat is now torn. I can make him a new one but I might keep it myself. I heard that radio waves may cause a serious case of hot dog fingers!!!
 
  <font color=red>I invented the internet and bacon.</font color=red>

Now I am afraid the sky will fall.
 
  <b><font color=blue>Welcome to</font color=blue> <font color=red>Fredi's</font color=red><font color=blue> place.</font color=blue></b>  

well i think you're getting somewaht of a wrong impression of what i stated.  it seems as if you're taking the argument to an absurd level.  
 
As for the whole staying inside thing.  Well if you think about it I go to school from 7:40-2:20 and the only time you get out there is at lunch. After school I usually drive over to a friend's house and chill there for awhile and then i normally go home.  I play two instruments so I have to practice those and then do my homework and other household chores.  So when I go out it's usually at night or when I'm gettin in the car to go someplace else.  On weekends I end up usually working or goin to a friend's house too, so you see the amount of time spent inside is more than one would think, especially in the winter.  The summer is somewhat of a different story.  Since i've been in this winter mode lately I haven't really been thinking about what i do in the summer but I don't spend the whole summer indoors.  I go out to the beach once in awhile and swim in the pool, but i'm not the type who sits outside and tries to get tan for 3 hours a day.
 
As for all the other things you mentioned, I'm well aware of those factors too, explaining why I don't go tanning and things like that.  I'm also aware that the area in which I live has a high amount of pesticides in the water and is totally another thing to worry about.  We use some water filters in my house, though, so hopefully that reduces the risk.  
 
The reason I question cell phone use, is that it is a device that is becomming more and more a part of life that is unavoidable.  You can avoid UV rays by either staying out of the sun or wearing sunscreen.  You can avoid lung cancer by not smoking.  But reliance on cell phones seems to be increasing so I wanted to know the risks involved with it and I thought that the people on this board were being a little to quick on the judgement over these things.  
 
BTW, do you have any sort of comparison on how much radiation is actually emitted.  For instance, they say that a flight across the United States account for about half of the amount of radiation one should be exposed to in one year.  Are there any similar statistics for cell phones or any other devices for that matter.  
i'm just basically trying to reduce any unneccesary risks.

 
It started at an absurd level, dhlucke didn't take it anywhere.
 

 
I <i>really</i> doubt that. I know plenty of people who fly a lot more than that and don't have cancer.
 
<font color=blue>Hi mom!</font color=blue>

Well how did it start at an absurd level?  I wanted to know if they had any sort of effects on your health so I decided to ask you guys.  Then I have people mocking me telling me to wear tin hats and live in caves.  I just want to know the extent of any risks that may be out there, trying to be informed and then I have people like you just making fun of me for asking a legit question.  
 
And for the whole flying thing, well those facts are based on what the government deems acceptable.  I have no idea exactly that is but I learned that in a chemistry class.  The reasons for the increase in the amount of radiation exposure while flying is because you are closer to the sun and are no longer protected by the ozone in the atmosphere. And I am not sure about this but I have heard that flight attendants are more likely to become sterile.  But that's not the point anyway, I was wondering if you had a way to put cell phone radiation into a similar context, rather than just saying it's minimal.  How do you know?
 
and by the way, how in the world do you reply to so many posts?  It seems like you post replies to every message on this website.  Do you work for tomshardware?
 
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by henryo11 on 05/09/02 06:12 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 
Do you have any proof of this? UV rays shouldn't come into effect, since you're inside the airplane.
 

 
Most of my posts are done by trained monkeys, actually. I've got 6 of them, and I give them a banana for every intelligent post. I've only had to give out two since I registered    
 
<font color=blue>Hi mom!</font color=blue>

Can I buy a monkey from you?
 
  <font color=red>I invented the internet and bacon.</font color=red>