Since the advent of mobile phones in the 1990s, communication has become much easier and more portable. In fact, it has become impossible to imagine a world without them. Business transactions have increased exponentially with decision making now taking place at a much faster pace. In Africa, cellular technology has become the primary means of communication, as phone companies no longer have to spend billions of dollars building telecommunication infrastructure.

Radio frequencies and magnetic fields have been controversial topics since the 1960s and 1970s, and with the introduction of cell phones, the controversy has been exacerbated. As in any debate, there are two schools of thought regarding the impact of radio waves and the danger they represent. On one side are those who believe that radio frequencies have little effect on consumers and the environment in general. On the other hand, there are those who believe we are in grave danger from radio waves and the telecommunications companies who trick us into thinking we are safe.

Radio frequencies, or radio waves, as they are more commonly known, are emitted by wireless devices and other electronic devices. They are not a novelty in the modern world. In fact, aside from natural phenomena, radio waves have been around for as long as radio and television. Basically, anything that has an antenna or a transmitter emits radio waves. The rate at which the body absorbs radio waves is measured as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).

The controversy surrounding cell phone radiation centers on whether the radio frequencies emitted by cell phones are safe for humans and the environment, or if we are all at risk from the continued omission of these electromagnetic waves and fields. . When radio frequencies are high enough, they can break down tissue in the human body and interfere with DNA. However, it is claimed that the emissions from mobile phones are so small that they do not pose any danger. This has been the FCC mantra for many years. There has been a lot of confusion and concern recently, as the same organization now claims that more research is needed to determine the effects of radio frequencies, as well as whether they are dangerous to humans.

Complaints have arisen in the United States and other countries such as South Africa, where base stations are located in urban areas and even built in gardens where an agreement is struck between cell phone networks and homeowners. People who live very close to the base stations have complained of headaches and other health problems. Homeowners associations and health researchers have claimed that living too close to base stations or making heavy use of mobile phones can lead to brain tumors and cancers.

With no official conclusions about the dangers of cell phones, and with more people complaining about the effects, one has to ask the following questions; How dangerous are radio frequencies and what are the risks to human health and the environment? Can constant exposure to radio waves cause free radicals to spawn, and if so, is there a way to protect ourselves? Are we slowly killing ourselves with the pollution of modern technology? It makes you think, doesn’t it?