Students divided on cell-phone risks

A few months ago, 160 Whitefish High School students completed a survey on the current cell phone policy. An overwhelming majority said they'd like to see the high school allow the use of cell phones during school hours.

In response to a recent opinion piece by community member Peter Stanley, Whitefish High students were once again interviewed on the topic. This time, students were asked about health risks of cell-phone use.

A total of 136 students were asked whether or not they thought cell phones pose health risks to users. Thirty-nine students agreed that cell-phone use is hazardous, 49 did not believe that cell phone use is dangerous, and 48 said they were unsure.

Each side held persuasive arguments. Of the students who see health risks to users, most believed recent scientific studies on cell-phone health risks.

"Obviously, if you're holding a phone to your head for 22 hours a month, you're bound to get cancer or some other harmful side-effects," one student said.

"I've seen many scientific studies on these health risks," another said. "Spending too much time on cell phones with that much electromagnetic radiation cannot be good for you in any way."

Supporters also said, however, that such risks are only possible through excessive use.

"Cell phones probably pose health risks to users, but it's not nearly as hazardous as many habits that are commonplace," a student said. "It's the least of my worries."

"With extended use, cell phones are dangerous," another said. "But most people aren't on a phone for 45 minutes daily, so the health risks to average users are minimal."

Of the students who argued against the dangers of cell-phone use, the most frequent argument was that there's not enough proof.

"I just think that people are looking for a simple thing to blame health problems on," one student said. "Health risks were here before cell phones were."

"This is just a scare and not real," another said. "There's not enough credible evidence to support these assumptions."

Some also pointed out that cell phones are not the only harmful devices in daily life.

"I don't know the science, but it seems everything is a health risk now, and everyone would be safer if we lived in bubbles," a student said. "It's just ridiculous."

"Microwaves and waves emitted from televisions have been proven to be more harmful," another student said. "It think that if you looked closely at everything we're in contact with daily, you'd find that everything poses some type of health risk."

Some students offered solutions to potential cell-phone health risks — limiting phone conversations and using texting.

"I only text so I'm good," one student said. "Our generation is quickly becoming a texting generation, which holds no threat to users because the cell phone is not in contact with the user's head or mouth."

Whether awareness of health risks will change student opinion on cell-phone use, we'll just have to wait and see.