Fearmongering gets you a science grant

This article details how a British scientist is going to study whether or not cell phone radiation is dangerous in people who use them heavily for more than ten years. (It is, ask any amateur radio operator if he puts his equipment next to his head constantly. He'll look at you as if you're insane.) He will study the rates of cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in cell users versus a control (can he even find a large amount of non-cell users?), and he is getting 3 million pounds (about six million dollars) from the British government and the mobile phone industry to do it.

When interviewed by the Times, this joker actually made the following statement:

"Asked whether the mobile phone could turn out to be the cigarette of the 21st century in terms of the damage it could inflict, he replied: “Absolutely.”"

This reminds me of the global warming scientists who constantly cry about the "crisis" of climate change that needs to be studied RIGHT NOW, or who knows what will happen? And by the way, I'm just the man to do it, and I need major funding. No, there is no debate over global warming, I don't care about that professor from MIT, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

To compare the small but very real danger of RF radiation from cell phone use to cigarette smoking is the height of irresponsibility. Are people addicted to cell phone use? (Probably, but not physically, as with tobacco.) Can the RF be abated? (Yes, by the use of a $5.oo headset to keep the RF away from the side of your head. Problem solved. I just saved you six million bucks.)

Whenever these types of studies are announced, pay careful attention as to who funds them. Often this info gives you good insight as to what the results of the study will be, even if the result is "we need to study it more, we need more money." Be aware, also, that a lot of these scientists depend on grant money coming in to keep their jobs and positions. Could this be enough pressure for some of them to exaggerate the dangers of whatever they're studying? Of course, they're only human.

"He insisted that there was nothing irresponsibly alarmist about his message. Even if a risk were found, people would not have to stop using phones, but perhaps reduce their use.“I do it because I think it’s worthwhile,” he said."

And because it gives him a nice living.