Download: Cellphone And Wireless Risks – Experts Criticize The Economist’s Coverage

Saturday, 14 January 2012

04 Jan 2012

Written by Grace Rattue

A critique, entitled “”The Economist – and the Truth About Microwave Radiation Emitted from Wireless Technologies”", of a report published in the The Economist (9/3/11), “”Worrying about Wireless”", has been published by experts in public health, neurosurgery, toxicology, oncology, electronic engineering, epidemiology, and cardiology from the USA, the UK, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Slovak Republic and Australia.

According to the experts, the Economist did not include vital data regarding the materializing public health issue associated to wireless technologies and cell phones and should provide its readers with a better understanding of the science.

Ronald B. Herberman, MD, Founding Director Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Chairman of Environmental Health Trust and a distinguished cancer researcher, explains of the Economist report, “”The public the world over has been misled by this reporting.”"

In 2008, Dr. Herberman, Chief Medical Officer of Intrexon Corporation, who served as Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Professor of Oncology and Vice Chancellor for Cancer Research at the University of Pittsburgh, issued an advisory to his staff and faculty advising a range of simple steps in order to lower the possible health risks from using cell phones.

Dr. Herberman, explained:

“”A disservice has been done in inaccurately depicting the body of science, which actually indicates that there are biological effects from the radiation emitted by wireless devices, including damage to DNA, and evidence for increased risk of cancer and other substantial health consequences.

It would behoove The Economist to publicly correct the errors made in this unsigned opinion piece by publishing a retraction – and investigating how such inaccurate and unbalanced scientific reporting could have occurred in the first place.”"

According to Dr. Lennart Hardell, Professor of Oncology, Orebro Medical Center, Orebro, Sweden, and a widely published, internationally renowned neuro-oncologist:

“”The Economist has misrepresented the science indicating biological effects, links to cancers, and damage to DNA and male fertility from exposures to microwave radiation emitted by wireless technologies. Given the wide scale use of cell phones and other wireless devices globally, for the sake of public health I consider it essential that The Economist’s reporting be corrected to adequately advise readers of the risks.”"

In Dr. Hardell’s studies, he has frequently discovered that individuals who use their cell phones and/or cordless phones regularly for more than 10 years have an increased risk of developing brain cancers. In May, Dr. Hardell’s investigation was noted in the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) landmark decision to classify wireless radiation as a Class 2B ‘Possible Carcinogen’.

Policy advocate Deborah Kopald, MBA explains:

“”It is exceedingly difficult to convince policy-makers to act in the public interest and parents and educators to give their charges proper guidance when they can point to a prestigious publication that provides false reassurance that not enough science exists to compel immediate behavior changes with wireless use.”"

Mona Nilsson, a Swedish investigative journalist, states:

“”The publication of The Economist article “”Worrying about Wireless”" was a sad day in journalism. If we cannot trust the media to accurately report the science on such an important subject in a balanced way, then who can we trust?”"

Nilsson broke the news that Anders Ahlbom did not reveal he was a member of the board of his brother’s consulting firm, Gunnar Anlbom AB, with connections with the telecom industry to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Last May the IARC removed Ahlbom of the Karolinska Institute from its panel of experts.

Experts from the “”The Economist – and the Truth About Microwave Radiation Emitted from Wireless Technologies”" critique, include leading physician’s, oncologists and scientists from seven nations. They are calling for the Economist to correct its unsigned opinion piece so that it more accurately reflects the range of known biological effects and potential health risks from wireless radiation.

Chad N’Djamena

Jordan, Amman,

Tunisia, Tunis,

Lithuania, Villinus,

Malawi, Lilongwe,

Peru, Lima, City,

Macedonia, Skjope,

Canada, Ottawa, Ontario,

Moldova Chisinau

Grand Rapids Michigan USA