Researcher: Cell phone radiation danger 'not theoretical'

Dr. Devra Davis is on a crusade to prevent an epidemic.

"This is not theoretical," Davis said. "You have to keep the phone away from the brain, away from the body. In fact the manufacturers are telling you that now also."

After decades in public health and scientific research, she's turned her attention to the risks of cell phone radiation in her new book, Disconnect.

She said we haven't seen increased cases of brain cancer yet, but that we will if we don't change our ways.

"Brain cancer can take 40 years before it's evident in the general population after exposure," Davis said.

She also warns men to protect themselves from the potential impact on sperm count and even sperm damage.

"You need to do this by taking the phone out of your pocket and into a fanny pack, a backpack, a purse, a man-bag, a purse, whatever you want to call it, and using it in a way that is not directly on the body," Davis said.

Davis said if consumers read their phone instruction booklets carefully, they'll see fine print about FCC guidelines and safe distances.

Meanwhile, the Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association said consumers have nothing to worry about.

In a statement to ABC15, wireless association vice president John Walls said, "The scientific evidence shows no known health risk due to the RF energy emitted by cell phones."

Walls also said the association supports on-going studies.

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Full statement from CTIA:

"CTIA and the wireless industry defer to the scientific community when it comes to cell phones and health effects. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), American Cancer Society and numerous other international and U.S. organizations and health experts, the scientific evidence shows no known health risk due to the RF energy emitted by cell phones. As the FDA states on its website, '[t]he weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems.'
"The FCC has determined that all wireless phones legally sold in the United States are 'safe.' The FCC monitors scientific research on a regular basis, and its standard for RF exposure is based on recommended guidelines adopted by U.S. and international standard-setting bodies.
"While there has been extensive research in this area to date, we support ongoing studies. If any person or organization has any information that is not currently available to the wide array of public health organizations and agencies with well-documented conclusions in this area, we encourage they make that information available to those groups for their expert review."