Here we go again. Just when you thought it was over, here comes another study linking cell phones to brain tumors. The study poo-poos earlier studies saying the risk was minimal to non-existent for a variety of reasons and ramps up the freak-out-o-meter by claiming that EMR (electromagnetic radiation) from cell phones accounts for a significant increased risk of brain tumors, as well as increased risk of eye cancer, salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.

But before we all go screaming for the hills and petition to join an Amish sect, let’s consider that your body can’t tell EMR from a cell phone from EMR from any of the other multitude of sources in your life. Non-ionizing radiation (that’s the frequency range we are talking about here) is significantly less dangerous to cells than radiation from x-rays, radon under your home, or even sunlight. While non-ionizing radiation can heat up objects (that’s how your microwave works), the paltry few hundred milli-watt levels of energy emitted by your cell phone are hardly enough to melt a Hershey bar, much less cook your brain.

Still, it’s possible that EMR has effects we don’t know about. But even if that’s true, your exposure from WiFi hotspots, radio and TV broadcasts, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, power lines, cellular towers, and other sources all add to the cell phone effect. Blaming the cell phone is like blaming french fries for trans-fat. It’s just one source of many.

Besides, if you could see all the equipment in my office you would see that I sit all day pretty much bathed in EMR. I am the proverbial canary in the coal mine. And you don’t see me having a brain tumo… hey, wait a minute!