MWA #3

So my conclusion post wasn't may last post here is my final assignment my argument essay

Jonathan Shepherd

Argument Essay

Professor Goff

August 11, 2014

There has long been a debate about whether cell phones cause cancer? I personally believe that they do not mainly due to the many studies that agree with me. There are many carcinogens in the world but I personally believe that a cell phone isn’t one of them. You have cigarettes that cause cancer because they constantly irritate the lungs. You also have radiation which in large amounts has been found to cause cancer. The reason people believe that cell phones cause cancer is because of the small amount of radiation that is put off by the antenna of the phone. This is considered low-grade radiation but some believe that since people are constantly on their phones it makes them more likely to have cancer.

No large scale health organization to date believes that cell phones give you cancer. Some however believe that cell phones may make you more likely to get cancer, in particular brain tumors. To understand this you must first understand cancer as the terrible condition it is. Cancer isn’t like chicken pox where you can be fine one day and then you drink some of your friend’s soup and then you have it. Cancer is your body rapidly dividing cells for basically no good reason it is believed to be caused by the body’s genetic code becoming almost confused. So some people believe that this radiation could cause your body to “get” cancer. They believe that the low grade radiation will eventually cause your body’s genetic code to be altered therefore giving you cancer.

Some then may wonder why radiation is given to cancer patients to treat the disease. It is because radiation kills rapidly dividing cells and this in turn kills cancerous cells. So radiation isn’t always a bad thing when it comes to cancer. Now one reason that I believe it is not a factor that causes cancer is because there have been many studies that prove even the physics behind the idea that radiation can get through the skull. Therefore I feel it is a hard thing to be able to consider radiation a factor in causing brain tumors due to the physics involving the skull.

Lastly there have been many studies about cell phone use and cancer. They have conducted research in which they have given people cell phones and recorded the instances in which they have ended up with cancer. The results have been very inconclusive which means that scientists really don’t know whether cell phones do cause cancer or not. In these studies they found that for the average user the risk doesn’t really increase while for the heavy users it may increase.

So overall the many studies and professional opinions are very inconclusive on whether cell phones should be considered carcinogens. As for me I personally believe that if you aren’t constantly on the phone you will be able to avoid many health problems including cancer. As for the idea that talking on the phone every now and then will give you cancer is baseless claim. So overall we will never really be able to know whether cell phones are a carcinogen until we are able to truly understand cancer as a disease. So I am agreeing with the WHO for now which lists cell phones as “possible carcinogens”.

Works Cited

Auvinen, Anssi, Tim Toivo, and Kari Tokola. “Epidemiological risk assessment of mobile phones and cancer: where can we improve?.” European journal of cancer prevention 15.6 (2006): 516-523.

 “Cellular Phones.” Cellular Phones. American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/cellular-phones>.

“Cell Phones and Cancer Risk.” National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute , n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones>.

Christensen, Helle Collatz, et al. “Cellular telephone use and risk of acoustic neuroma.” American journal of epidemiology 159.3 (2004): 277-283.

Deorah, Sundeep, et al. “Trends in brain cancer incidence and survival in the United States: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 1973 to 2001.” Neurosurgical focus 20.4 (2006): E1.

Durkin, Claire. “Cell Phones and Cancer.” Cell Phones and Cancer. N.p., 11 June 2012. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph250/durkin2/>.

Glazer, Sarah. “Cell Phone Safety.” CQ Researcher 11: 201-224. Web. 7 July 2014.

Hardell, Lennart, Michael Carlberg, and Kjell Hansson Mild. “Use of mobile phones and cordless phones is associated with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma.” Pathophysiology 20.2 (2013): 85-110.

Hours, M. “Cell Phones and Risk of brain and acoustic nerve tumours: the French INTERPHONE case-control study.” Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publiqu 55.5 (2007): 321-332. Web. 6 July 2014.

Lin, James C. “Health effects: the blood-brain barrier, cancer, cell phones, and microwave radiation.” Microwave Magazine, IEEE 2.4 (2001): 26-30.

Moulder, JE . “International Journal of Radiation Biology.” Mobile phones, mobile phone base stations and cancer: a review, , Informa Healthcare. International Journal of Radiation Biology, n.d. Web. 28 July 2014. <http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000500091097>.

Moynihan, Timothy . “Is there any link between cellphones and cancer.” Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/cell-phones-and-cancer/faq-20057798>.

Muscat, Joshua E., et al. “Handheld cellular telephone use and risk of brain cancer.” Jama 284.23 (2000): 3001-3007.

Savitz, David A. “Mixed signals on cell phones and cancer.” Epidemiology 15.6 (2004): 651-652.

Söderqvist, Fredrik, et al. “Childhood brain tumour risk and its association with wireless phones: a commentary.” Environ Health 10.1 (2011): 106.

Vini G. Khurana, Charles Teo, Michael Kundi, Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg, “Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data”, Surgical Neurology 72:  205-214. Web. 8 July 2014.

Works Consulted

de Vocht, Frank, Igor Burstyn, and John W. Cherrie. "Time trends (1998–2007) in brain cancer incidence rates in relation to mobile phone use in England."Bioelectromagnetics 32.5 (2011): 334-339.

Kohler, Betsy A., et al. "Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2007, featuring tumors of the brain and other nervous system." Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2011).

Desai, Nisarg R., Kavindra K. Kesari, and Ashok Agarwal. "Pathophysiology of cell phone radiation: oxidative stress and carcinogenesis with focus on male reproductive system." Reprod Biol Endocrinol 7.114 (2009): 1-9.

Conclusion Post

Well this will be my last post for the class but first I have to address a current issue. Today it was discovered, at least by me, that we have lost Robin Williams. He was a great guy and a hilarious comedian it is so weird for people to now be dying that I watched while growing up. Now back to what I am supposed to be talking about which is the English class I have been in for the past 7 weeks.

It was a really fun class and a good way for me to kick off my long college career ahead of me. The best part of this class was the discussions. While they weren't very in depth at the start of the class but as time progressed they got better and better. Also as a little shout out to my professor she was the best and it was a really low stress environment for a college class which was great. So this is goodbye to the blogging world because in all reality I'm probably never going to have a blog again.

MWA #1 and #2

Jonathan Shepherd

Professor Goff

Wednesday July 2, 2014

Annotated Bibliography

“Cellular Phones.” Cellular Phones. American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/cellular-phones>.

This is an Article that was published by the American Cancer Society. It states that cell phones do emit low grade radiation but are not considered a definite carcinogen by the medical community. It talks about many studies such as the INTERPHONE study. It also establishes that cordless home phones are also not believed to be carcinogens.

“Cell Phones and Cancer Risk.” National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute , n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones>.

This document was published by the National Cancer Institute and it talks about whether cell phones are considered to be carcinogens. It also talks more about how cell phones emit radiation through the antennas of the phone. Overall the site says that cell phones are not considered carcinogenic.

Durkin, Claire. “Cell Phones and Cancer.” Cell Phones and Cancer. N.p., 11 June 2012. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph250/durkin2/>.

This paper stated that while epidemiology may suggest that cell phones cause cancer physics says otherwise. The author of this article is not an expert in the field though so the findings may be bias. So overall this paper said that cell phones can’t literally cause cancer due to physics.

Glazer, Sarah. “Cell Phone Safety.” CQ Researcher 11: 201-224. Web. 7 July 2014.

This article discussed two main topics associated with “Cell Phone Safety”, driving with them and as possible health hazards. This article talked about a study that was conducted in Denmark to test cell phones as possible carcinogens, but again results were inconclusive.

Hours, M. “Cell Phones and Risk of brain and acoustic nerve tumours: the French INTERPHONE case-control study.” Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publiqu 55.5 (2007): 321-332. Web. 6 July 2014.

This is an article about the INTERPHONE study, which is a study that was conducted in France about cell phones and their link to cancer. The findings of the study determined that for the mild cell phone user there were no significant increases in brain tumors. In the heavy cell phone users they found a slight increase in brain tumor occurrences.

Moynihan, Timothy . “Is there any link between cellphones and cancer.” Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/cell-phones-and-cancer/faq-20057798>.

This article discusses whether people should be concerned about cell phones as carcinogens. Again it says that the data is disputable but warns against high cell phone usage. The author is an oncologist so his opinion is an educated one.

Vini G. Khurana, Charles Teo, Michael Kundi, Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg, “Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data”, Surgical Neurology 72: 205-214. Web. 8 July 2014.

This was an article talking about a study that was conducted by the above authors regarding cell phones and brain tumors. These doctors found that cell phones could cause brain tumors especially on the side of your head you talk on the phone with. Also they found that long term cell phone use could be another possible reason for brain tumors.





Jonathan Shepherd

Professor Goff

Monday, July 28, 2014

Literature Review

My topic discusses whether cell phones can be considered a carcinogen. Now what that means is, if cell phones do indeed cause cancer. This argument has been raging ever since cell phones were widely introduced into the public. Many scientists think that the low amounts of radiation coming off the antenna of the phone may in fact cause cancer. While opinions widely vary there are three main groups in this argument.

The first group is those who believe that cell phones cause you to get cancer. Now to clarify the meaning of that it means that cell phones give you cancer. While the second group believes that it could cause you to develop cancer. The difference between the two groups is very small the first simply believes that cell phones make you more likely to develop cancer. While the second group believes that it may cause you to develop cancer. The last group believes that cell phones have no relation to weather you will have cancer. These varying opinions have caused many studies to be conducted and many articles to be published concerning this subject matter.

In one article published by the American Cancer Society it discusses if cell phones cause cancer. In their article they say that there is no consistent correlation between cell phone use and the development of cancer. They also say that at this time there is no health organization that believes it causes cancer, but a few do consider it possibly carcinogenic.

Also the Mayo Clinic has an article written by Timothy J. Moynihan. In this he also states that while several studies have been conducted concerning cancer and cell phones, there hasn’t been enough evidence in the studies to give a definite answer either way. As for a little background on why people believe cell phones may cause cancer it is due to the knowledge that radiation causes cancer. Now the difference is that while an x-ray without protection will make you more likely to have cancer a phone antenna since it is low frequency radiation shouldn’t. Still some believe that due to the proximity of the radiation and due to the constant presence of the radiation that they can cause cancer.

Now other studies conducted by outside sources disagree with these large organizations beliefs. In a study conducted by Vini G. Khurana in Australia they found that cell phones do in fact increase your likelihood of developing cancer. In their study they found that people who had used a cell phone for more than 10 years were almost twice as likely to develop a brain tumor. While the WHO and other worldwide organizations still don’t know if cell phones are carcinogenic.

Now there have been other study’s conducted that agree with Vini Khurana’s findings and one of them is the INTERPHONE study. This particular study was conducted in France, in it they found that while cell phone use in general didn’t make you more likely to get cancer if you were a heavy user your chances increased. These two studies fall in the second group which is the group that believes cell phones could be carcinogenic. Overall most of the medical community falls into the second or third groups.

Many studies have been conducted by many professionals including Lennart Hardell, Fredrik Söderqvist, David Savitz, James Lin, Helle Collatz Chistensen and many others. They all say that while cell phones may increase your risk for cancer it will not give you cancer. So overall there are only two main groups in this argument the ones that believe that cell phones can increase your risk for cancer and those who believe that it doesn’t. Right now though there is no definite answer to the question of “Do cell phones cause cancer?”

Works Cited

Auvinen, Anssi, Tim Toivo, and Kari Tokola. “Epidemiological risk assessment of mobile phones and cancer: where can we improve?.” European journal of cancer prevention 15.6 (2006): 516-523.

“Cellular Phones.” Cellular Phones. American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/cellular-phones>.

“Cell Phones and Cancer Risk.” National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute , n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones>.

Christensen, Helle Collatz, et al. “Cellular telephone use and risk of acoustic neuroma.” American journal of epidemiology 159.3 (2004): 277-283.

Deorah, Sundeep, et al. “Trends in brain cancer incidence and survival in the United States: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 1973 to 2001.” Neurosurgical focus 20.4 (2006): E1.

Durkin, Claire. “Cell Phones and Cancer.” Cell Phones and Cancer. N.p., 11 June 2012. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph250/durkin2/>.

Glazer, Sarah. “Cell Phone Safety.” CQ Researcher 11: 201-224. Web. 7 July 2014.

Hardell, Lennart, Michael Carlberg, and Kjell Hansson Mild. “Use of mobile phones and cordless phones is associated with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma.” Pathophysiology 20.2 (2013): 85-110.

Hours, M. “Cell Phones and Risk of brain and acoustic nerve tumours: the French INTERPHONE case-control study.” Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publiqu 55.5 (2007): 321-332. Web. 6 July 2014.

Lin, James C. “Health effects: the blood-brain barrier, cancer, cell phones, and microwave radiation.” Microwave Magazine, IEEE 2.4 (2001): 26-30.

Moulder, JE . “International Journal of Radiation Biology.” Mobile phones, mobile phone base stations and cancer: a review, , Informa Healthcare. International Journal of Radiation Biology, n.d. Web. 28 July 2014. <http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000500091097>.

Moynihan, Timothy . “Is there any link between cellphones and cancer.” Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/cell-phones-and-cancer/faq-20057798>.

Muscat, Joshua E., et al. “Handheld cellular telephone use and risk of brain cancer.” Jama 284.23 (2000): 3001-3007.

Savitz, David A. “Mixed signals on cell phones and cancer.” Epidemiology 15.6 (2004): 651-652.

Söderqvist, Fredrik, et al. “Childhood brain tumour risk and its association with wireless phones: a commentary.” Environ Health 10.1 (2011): 106.

Vini G. Khurana, Charles Teo, Michael Kundi, Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg, “Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data”, Surgical Neurology 72: 205-214. Web. 8 July 2014.

In-Class Writings

Sorry I forgot I had to post all of these, now I don't really know what the dates are for all of them but here they are.

What has been my internet use been for in the past week

1. School Work

2. Check E-mail

3. News

4. Golf Courses

5. Religious Stuff

Today in class we read a paper by Jacques Cousteau and it was about the oceans and how if the ocean dies we will be next. I feel that he is trying to almost scare people into keeping care of the ocean. I think it is highly dramatized what would happen but I do feel it is very important to keep good care of nature.

Facebook Friends

While I do have a Facebook I don't really check it that often but I feel that about 10 or 20 of my Facebook friends are my close friends but it is a very nice thing to be able to keep in touch with people that live far away that you have met so just like everything it has its pros and its cons

Thesis Statement

Are cell phones and the radiation involved with them considered carcinogens by the medical community?

Advocate

I would advocate for the coral reefs of the world because they are home to many endangered species and they are being destroyed as we speak. I feel it is important to advocate this because I want coral reefs to still be around for me and my children to enjoy. I'm not sure whether that will be a possibility if people don't change.

Media Break

For this week I am going to not use technology as much as possible. For me I don't think it will be that hard because I love the outdoors and sports so I'll be able to find something to do.

Journal #14

For the past couple of days I have been up at a youth camp in Logan Canyon and it was a blast. I didn't realize that there were so many pretty hikes up there. It was an amazing couple of days we did everything from going ice blocking to hiking up to the wind caves up there. I am so glad I have been able to go to so many beautiful places this summer and it has been a blast hiking around them.

Journal #13

Today I have been listening to hold music for about 15 minutes and it is driving me crazy. It kills me that people can't have hold music be a little less boring it is about the same as elevator music. I also just hate hold in general because It makes me just sit around waiting for someone to pick up their phone and talk to me. Half the times I think they forget that we are even there and then an hour later they decide to pick up the phone. So let’s just get rid of the hold feature on phones.

Journal #12

Well folks we officially have only 14 days until I am back in school. Now looking back on the summer it has gone way too fast but it has been good fun. This summer not only was I able to start my first college class but I also got my first job and was able to do some fun things with my friends. With saying that I still do wish I had a little longer to just be a regular high schooler and have a normal summer for more than two weeks. On the bright side of things I will be able to see some old friends and party up my senior year of high school