July 24th, 2008

Yesterday the Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute issued a memo to all faculty and staff warning of the possible health risks associated with cell phone use.

Today, some of the Institute’s staff say they will be altering their cell phone habits, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Employee Anne Kisak says she will now probably pay the $5 extra a month to purchase unlimited text messaging.  The memo stated that text messaging one’s children is significantly safter than calling, since children’s thinner skulls and scalps make them particularly vulnerable to electromagnetic activity.

The Gazette reports that, ”Dr. Herberman is believed to be the only cancer center director in the country to release an advisory about the possible hazards of cell phone use. Evidence supporting the theory that cell phones might cause brain tumors is inconclusive, and other studies cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have found no correlation between the two.”