You can now search the web, check email, watch television, and record or take pictures. .
Although cellular phones offer many advantages, there are some disadvantages and risk when using cellular phones, at least when using them improperly. One of the more obvious risks of cellular phone usage is "talking and driving". Cellular phone usage in cars makes drivers less aware of their surroundings. They fail to maintain in touch with the traffic conditions around them. As a result, drivers are slower to react to potential dangers. Traffic situations constantly change and an accident can easily happen in seconds. Therefore, anything that has the potential to distract the driver is considered a hazard. A recent study by Harvard University in 2002 linked cellular phones to 2600 fatalities a year (Edmonds and Simitian). As a result, legislation for the banning of cellular phones while driving or requiring hands-free devices continues to grow. .
Another disadvantage of cellular phone usage is the possibility of health risks. Although there are many hands free devices now available for cellular phone usage, many people still use the cellular phone the old-fashion way of placing the cellular phone close to your head and potentially causing future damage to your head and body. There have been many studies on the damage that using a cellular phone can possibly cause. Cellular phone usage has been associated with a number of illnesses. For instance, studies have proven that cellular phones can release enough lead to be classified as hazardous waste. In addition, there are findings that signals from devices such as cellular phones could actually disrupt parts of the brain involving memory and learning. Other studies have shown that not only do phones produce a rise in blood pressure, but also depress vital brain hormones (Coghill). Scientist, from Colorado University, tests have shown that people who use their mobile phones frequently have depressed melatonin, which is a vital cancer-preventing hormone.
