Kendra Cobb
English 101
Argumentative Essay
December 5, 2016
English 101
Argumentative Essay
December 5, 2016
Cancer Causing Technology
Technology devices that are used every day by a countless number of people all over the world, such as cell phones, may be causing cancer and other negative health effects. The frequency that is emitted from cell phones is more dangerous than people acknowledge. This problem with technology is increasing and steps to make technology more safe need to be taken. Cell phones have been proven to increase the number of brain tumors, damage DNA, and cause cancer; but cell phones are not the only form of technology that causes these negative health risks.
There is research to prove that the radiation that cell phones give off has increased the number of brain tumors. In contrast, Bernard Leikind, an independent physician, says that it is impossible for radiofrequency waves or microwaves to cause cancer (Leikind par. 3). Danielle Dellorto, a medical producer at CNN, said, “...they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers” (Dellorto par. 5). Children who are using cell phones are more at risk of developing cancer because their brains are still in the process of developing, which means that the radiation transmitted from cell phones is being exposed to cells that are further in their brains ("Mobile Phones 'Raise Children's Risk of Brain Cancer Fivefold" par. 6). The earlier that children are using phones, the higher the risk of them developing forms of brain cancer.
The radio frequency radiation that is emitted from cell phones, has been studied, and these waves have been proven to cause heart tumors, brain tumors, and attention disorders in lab animals. However, the National Cancer Institute mentions that radiofrequency only has one type of effect; heat (Naff par. 10). Although radio frequency waves are said to only give off heat, other studies by Carina Storrs, from CNN, states that “between 2% and 7% of the irradiated male rats developed heart tumors, compared with only about 2% of the irradiated female rats and none of the control rats” (Storrs par. 5). Storrs also mentions that the rats that were exposed to the radiation grew brain tumors (Storrs par. 5). The radiation from cell phones is causing many health defects. When rats are exposed to the radiation transmitted by cell phones cause the rats to have attention disorders, similar to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in humans (Reinberg par. 2). If the radiation is causing brain tumors, heart tumors, and attention disorders in animals; the radiation is harming humans as well.
Cell phones are not the only technology that is said to cause cancer; medical imaging is also said to cause forms of cancer and damage DNA. The opposition states that radio frequency wave do not damage cells, unlike the waves given off by different types of medical imaging (Naff par. 13). However, studies have tested and proved, “...that [computerized tomography] CT scans cause 29,000 cancers per year and 14,500 deaths” (Brownlee and Wainwright par. 1). Though cell phones do not radiate at the same power as CT scans, cell phones still transmit radiation that can cause forms of cancer also. When radiation goes through a body, it hits cells and damages the DNA in the cells. An article, from the New York Times, written by Rita Redberg and Rebecca Smith-Bindman states that “A single CT scan exposes a patient to the amount of radiation that epidemiologic evidence shows can be cancer-causing” (Redberg and Smith-Bindman par. 4). The longer and more radiation that is emitted, the more damage the radiation is doing to the body and the cells. If the radiation has damaged enough cells, then that is when cancer cells begin to develop.
The technology we use on a daily basis may be more harmful to humans than they know. Technology is becoming more and more advanced every day. This could mean that cell phones are someday going to give off less radio frequency waves, making cell phones safer to use. This could also mean that medical imaging is emitting more and more radiation to get better images, but the increase in the radiation can be even more harmful to the human bodies than it is today. Everyday items, such as a cell phone, have been studied and tested resulting in an increase in tumors in the brain and cancer in lab animals, however; medical imaging has also been proven to cause damage to DNA and increase the number of people who have cancer.
There is research to prove that the radiation that cell phones give off has increased the number of brain tumors. In contrast, Bernard Leikind, an independent physician, says that it is impossible for radiofrequency waves or microwaves to cause cancer (Leikind par. 3). Danielle Dellorto, a medical producer at CNN, said, “...they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers” (Dellorto par. 5). Children who are using cell phones are more at risk of developing cancer because their brains are still in the process of developing, which means that the radiation transmitted from cell phones is being exposed to cells that are further in their brains ("Mobile Phones 'Raise Children's Risk of Brain Cancer Fivefold" par. 6). The earlier that children are using phones, the higher the risk of them developing forms of brain cancer.
The radio frequency radiation that is emitted from cell phones, has been studied, and these waves have been proven to cause heart tumors, brain tumors, and attention disorders in lab animals. However, the National Cancer Institute mentions that radiofrequency only has one type of effect; heat (Naff par. 10). Although radio frequency waves are said to only give off heat, other studies by Carina Storrs, from CNN, states that “between 2% and 7% of the irradiated male rats developed heart tumors, compared with only about 2% of the irradiated female rats and none of the control rats” (Storrs par. 5). Storrs also mentions that the rats that were exposed to the radiation grew brain tumors (Storrs par. 5). The radiation from cell phones is causing many health defects. When rats are exposed to the radiation transmitted by cell phones cause the rats to have attention disorders, similar to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in humans (Reinberg par. 2). If the radiation is causing brain tumors, heart tumors, and attention disorders in animals; the radiation is harming humans as well.
Cell phones are not the only technology that is said to cause cancer; medical imaging is also said to cause forms of cancer and damage DNA. The opposition states that radio frequency wave do not damage cells, unlike the waves given off by different types of medical imaging (Naff par. 13). However, studies have tested and proved, “...that [computerized tomography] CT scans cause 29,000 cancers per year and 14,500 deaths” (Brownlee and Wainwright par. 1). Though cell phones do not radiate at the same power as CT scans, cell phones still transmit radiation that can cause forms of cancer also. When radiation goes through a body, it hits cells and damages the DNA in the cells. An article, from the New York Times, written by Rita Redberg and Rebecca Smith-Bindman states that “A single CT scan exposes a patient to the amount of radiation that epidemiologic evidence shows can be cancer-causing” (Redberg and Smith-Bindman par. 4). The longer and more radiation that is emitted, the more damage the radiation is doing to the body and the cells. If the radiation has damaged enough cells, then that is when cancer cells begin to develop.
The technology we use on a daily basis may be more harmful to humans than they know. Technology is becoming more and more advanced every day. This could mean that cell phones are someday going to give off less radio frequency waves, making cell phones safer to use. This could also mean that medical imaging is emitting more and more radiation to get better images, but the increase in the radiation can be even more harmful to the human bodies than it is today. Everyday items, such as a cell phone, have been studied and tested resulting in an increase in tumors in the brain and cancer in lab animals, however; medical imaging has also been proven to cause damage to DNA and increase the number of people who have cancer.
Works Cited
Brownlee, Shannon, and Sam Wainwright. “Medical Imaging Exposes People to Too Much Radiation.” Huffington Post, Edited by Carol Ullmann and
Lynn M. Zott, 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Dellorto, Danielle. “Cell Phones May Be Carcinogenic Hazards.” CNN, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Leikind, Bernard. “The Laws of Physics Make Cancer from Cell Phones a Virtual Impossibility.” Skeptic Magazine, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 9 June
2010, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
“Mobile Phones 'Raise Children's Risk of Brain Cancer Fivefold'.” US Newswire, 29 Sept. 2008, Student Resources in Context.
Naff, Clay Farris. “No Definitive Evidence Ties Cell Phone Radiation to Brain Cancer.” No Definitive Evidence Ties Cell Phone Radiation to Brain
Cancer, 24 Oct. 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Redberg, Rita F., and Rebecca Smith-Bindman. “We Are Giving Ourselves Cancer.” The New York Times, 31 Jan. 2014, p. A27(L).
Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Reinberg, Steven. “Cell Phone Radiation Affects Fetal Mice.” HealthDay Reporter, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 15 Mar. 2012, Opposing
Viewpoints in Context.
Storrs, Carina. “Cell Phone Radiation Increases Cancers in Rats, but Should We Worry?” CNN Wire, 27 May 2016, Student Resources in
Context.
Lynn M. Zott, 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Dellorto, Danielle. “Cell Phones May Be Carcinogenic Hazards.” CNN, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Leikind, Bernard. “The Laws of Physics Make Cancer from Cell Phones a Virtual Impossibility.” Skeptic Magazine, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 9 June
2010, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
“Mobile Phones 'Raise Children's Risk of Brain Cancer Fivefold'.” US Newswire, 29 Sept. 2008, Student Resources in Context.
Naff, Clay Farris. “No Definitive Evidence Ties Cell Phone Radiation to Brain Cancer.” No Definitive Evidence Ties Cell Phone Radiation to Brain
Cancer, 24 Oct. 2011, Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Redberg, Rita F., and Rebecca Smith-Bindman. “We Are Giving Ourselves Cancer.” The New York Times, 31 Jan. 2014, p. A27(L).
Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Reinberg, Steven. “Cell Phone Radiation Affects Fetal Mice.” HealthDay Reporter, Edited by Clay Farris Naff, 15 Mar. 2012, Opposing
Viewpoints in Context.
Storrs, Carina. “Cell Phone Radiation Increases Cancers in Rats, but Should We Worry?” CNN Wire, 27 May 2016, Student Resources in
Context.