Cell Phones Really Can Kill You

In a less-than-shocking study done recently in Amsterdam, researchers found that the electromagnetic signal from cell phones can interrupt or stop devices like pacemakers and syringe pumps.

 This comes in contrast to a study done by the Mayo Clinic earlier this year that found the exact opposite; that cell phone signals pose no threat to hospital equipment.

The study showed that, when used around 61 life-sustaining machines commonly found in hospital rooms, a minimal number of catastrophic events will result.  By that, they mean that 50 incidents were sited, and 75% of them would lead to fatality.

However, if your phone doesn’t use a nifty new program called General Packet Radio Service, which does stuff like let you surf the Web and check your email from your phone, chances are you won’t be doing any damage when you’re innocently trying to pass the time at your comatose uncle’s bedside.

Besides, you have to be insanely close to machinery while using your Internet connection; according to the study, the mean distance for interference is 3 centimeters.  So just don’t sit on anybody’s face while looking at Facebook, and you’re cool.

~ by echostarlite on September 6, 2007.