Presidential candidates opine on cell phone radiation crisis

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News with a Twist

New study renews concern about cell phones and cancer

CDC and NIH issue advisories

In a study certain to reignite questions about cell phone safety, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences released findings indicating that prolonged exposure to the type of radiation emitted by cell phones increased the incidence of cancer in rats.

While cell phone radiation studies have been conducted for over 20 years, this is the first in many years to get the attention of government and health officials.

Curiously, the cancer incidence among male rats in the study was almost two times higher than among female rats.

Showing extreme caution, and in an unprecedented joint announcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) called for the immediate cessation of cell phone use by male rats and limited cell phone use by female rats. In both cases, cell phone use was deemed acceptable if ear buds, but not Bluetooth devices, are used by the rats.

Given the ubiquitous use of cell phones in the U.S., the study and the resulting advisories by two of the nation’s most prestigious health organizations has become a topic of conversation in the U.S. presidential race.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald J. Trump was nonplussed by the news saying in a statement, “This is really not a huge issue for me as I only use my cell phone for tweeting, never for calling, and I understand that the radiation problem is not a concern for people who tweet and have small hands.”

Leading Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign issued the following statement on the issue: “Not only does Secretary Clinton not know how to use email (as noted in the recent State Department IG report) she does not know how to use a cell phone. She is, however, concerned about the rats and will do whatever she can as president, to protect them from radiation disease.”

For his part, Senator Bernie Sanders, appearing on CBS’ Face the Nation, said, “Cell phone, schmell phone. I never use a cell phone as I do all my calling on my black bakelite desk phone,” going on to say, “It never runs out of batteries and you never hear me say ‘Can you hear me now.’”