Every fall, Apple unveils a new version of its flagship iPhone life, always to huge fanfare and record-breaking sales records. In autumn 2014, though, the enthusiasm over the brand’s then-just-released iPhone 6 was tempered somewhat by complaints from some owners that the phone was bending in their pockets. As Newsweek noted in a response article, however, Apple had already warned iPhone users not to carry your cell phone in your pocket. That warning had nothing to do with bendy phones, either. Instead, it had to do with radiation exposure.
Indeed, over the years, Apple has included warnings in their iPhone instruction manuals, indicating that phones should be kept 10 or 15 millimeters away from the body at all times. Pockets don’t provide that kind of distance—even if an iPhone is contained in a fairly thick and sturdy case. Instead, Apple says that its phones are intended to be carried in holsters or belt clips, to reduce radiation exposure.
A Cancer-Causing Catastrophe?
There still hasn’t been enough research to establish an undisputed cause-and-effect relationship between cell phone radiation and cancer. However, there have been enough horror stories to give cell phone users pause about how they use, carry, and store their phones on a daily basis.
For instance, in 2012, Women’s Health covered the story of Pembroke Pines, a city located in southern Florida. At the time, the city of Pembroke Pines had recently passed a resolution “warning citizens that radiation from cell phones might cause cancer.” The resolution was passed thanks to a local resident who had undergone procedures to remove two cancerous tumors from his body. The first tumor had been in his left hand; the second had been right above his left ear. The resident theorized that, based on the locations of the tumors, both had been caused by his cell phone.
Women’s Health responded to the story by warning readers to use headsets when making phone calls, avoid cell phone usage in moving vehicles, and yes, keep phones out of their pockets. Women’s Health isn’t the only publication issuing those kinds of warnings, either. On the contrary, the potential dangers of carrying a phone in your pocket have been covered (in some capacity) by TIME, CNN, Men’s Health, and plenty of other well-known media brands.
Better Ways to Carry Your Phone
If you can’t carry your phone in your pocket without worrying about adverse health effects, then you obviously shouldn’t be carrying your phone in your pocket at all. But what are the alternatives, and do they make sense for you? After all, many of us have gotten into the habit of carrying our phones in our pockets. When you slip something in and out of your pocket dozens of times each day, every day, for five to 10 years, it can be tough to break the habit.
Finding the right phone-carrying alternative, then, is everything. Women who carry purses are at an advantage here, because they have a readymade alternative right in front of them. For individuals who never carry a bag and like to keep all of their belongings on their person, though, it can be tougher to ditch the pocket.
At e-Holster, we provide a range of cell phone carrying cases and holsters—all of which can provide you with a non-pocket-related way to stow and carry your mobile device. We’ve worked hard to design functional, comfortable, and high-quality products, and believe you will find the perfect solution by simply browsing our website.
How to Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Radiation
Getting your phone out of your pocket and into a belt-worn case or shoulder holster can go a long way toward protecting you from cell phone radiation, there are other precautions you can take as well. Here are a few options you might consider:
- Buy a low-radiation phone. If you are worried about radiation from your cell phone, you might consider trading in your current device for a proven low-radiation phone. This particular report is helpful for adding SAR data (specific absorption rate, a measure of cell phone radiation) to your list of reasons to buy or not buy a phone. Unfortunately, popular models like the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S series are on the higher end of the spectrum. Samsung’s Galaxy Note models, though, are surprisingly low in terms of radiation.
- Don’t carry your phone on your person unless it is necessary to do so. Sometimes, you can’t avoid carrying your phone on your person. When you are out running errands or in any situation where you are going to be on your phone a lot, you are going to be carrying your phone with you. When you aren’t moving around, however—whether you’re sitting at your desk at work, watching TV at home, or driving your car—get your phone out of your pocket or your belt holster. Place it on the desk in your office. Leave it on the TV table (or better yet, in the next room) while you’re lounging around at home. Put it in the center console while you’re driving. Whatever you can do to increase the distance between yourself and your phone will help to minimize your radiation absorption.
- Use a headset. This one is a no-brainer. By not holding your phone up against your ear for long phone calls, you are avoiding a lot of the radiation that would otherwise go straight into your head. Investing in a Bluetooth headset for your phone, in other words, is also an investment in your own health.
Conclusion
There may not be comprehensive, irrefutable evidence out there yet that carrying your cell phone in your pocket is a major health risk. But with many publications warning their readers about the dangers of cell phone radiation—and with Apple recommending that their phones be carried in holsters or belt clips—there’s no sense in waiting around for that evidence to arrive. Instead, make a change today. Invest in a new wallet carrying case or shoulder holster from eHolster, and start carrying your phone in a safer and more health conscious way.