The Vienna Medical Association would like to inform the population from a medical point of view about possible harmful effects on health.
Careful handling of the cell phone without restricting mobility
Here is an overview of what the Vienna Medical Association advises all mobile phone users:
- In principle, the following applies: Call as little and as shortly as possible - use landline or write SMS. Children and adolescents under the age of 16 should only carry cell phones in an emergency!
- "The distance is your friend" - keep the cell phone away from your head and body during the call, or pay attention to the distance recommended by the manufacturer in the operating instructions. Use the built-in speakerphone or a headset!
- When using headsets or an integrated hands-free device, do not position the cell phone directly on the body - special caution applies here to pregnant women. In men, cell phones in your pocket are a risk to fertility. People with electronic implants (pacemakers, insulin pumps, etc.) must keep their distance. If not otherwise possible: use an outer skirt pocket, backpack or handbag!
- Do not make calls in vehicles (car, bus, train) - the radiation in the vehicle is higher without an external antenna. In addition, you get distracted and annoy your fellow passengers on public transport!
- While driving the car, there is an absolute ban on SMS and internetworking - the distraction leads to self-harm and to other road users!
- Make calls over the fixed network at home and at work - Internet access via LAN cable (e.g. via ADSL, VDSL, fiber optic) does not radiate, is fast and data-secure. Continuously radiating DECT cordless phones, WLAN access points, data sticks and LTE home base stations (box, cube et cetera) should be avoided!
- Go offline more often or use the flight mode - an internet connection is not always necessary for functions such as listening to music, camera, alarm clock, calculator or offline games!
- Fewer apps means less radiation - minimize the number of apps and deactivate the mostly redundant background services of your smartphone. Deactivating "Mobile Services" / "Data Network Mode" turns the smartphone into a cell phone again. You can still be reached, but avoid a lot of unnecessary radiation from background data traffic!
- Avoid making cell phone calls in places with poor reception (basement, elevator etc.) - in such situations the cell phone increases the transmission power. If the reception quality is poor, use a headset or the hands-free system!
- When buying cell phones, ensure the lowest possible SAR value and an external antenna connection!