Maine could well become the first state in the Union to require cellphone manufacturers to add a cigarette-like warning to cellphone packaging. The idea is to remind people that cellphones may be dangerous, and that you would do well to limit your exposure to them.
Of course, for every study that comes out that says cellphones may be dangerous, there’s another that says they’re not, or, at the very least, that more data is necessary to make any conclusions.
Whether or not the warning message should be added will be brought before the Maine Legislature next month in a session that’s “usually reserved for emergency and governors’ bills.”
The proposed warnings would advise people, especially children and pregnant women, to limit their exposure to cellphones.
For its part, the CTIA, which is the mobile industry’s public face, says that it always bases its policies on hard science. To date, there has been no definitive “eureka!” study. Of course, that ignores the numerous studies that say, “you know, there’s some evidence here that says we should limit exposure.”
Besides, why make sure a big deal about a warning sticker? What’s so bad about limiting your exposure to cellphones?
WARNING! Adhesive in warning label may cause cancer.
wait, wha… no warning against the more immediate and proven danger of cell phone exposure while operating a motor vehicle?
waste of the legislature’s time. what a joke.
Seriously? I spend lots of time in Manhattan, and live in Brooklyn. Go to a rooftop in either, and I’m sure in SF and any other metropolitan area, and you’ll see cell phone transmitter towers on buildings all around. Heck, one apartment where I spend lots of time has a tower right outside the bedroom window on the neighboring building. I’m going to call it a pretty definitive study that none (as far as has been documented) of these transmitters has caused any cancer, even though they’ve been in place for years. How can your phone hurt you, if the transmitter towers – with the same signal, just lots and lots more of it at much stronger power – don’t hurt anyone? I have nothing against putting the phone down, just don’t encourage hysterical paranoia.
Also, the sky isn’t falling, the world won’t end in 2012, there’s no monster under your bed, and Sasquatch and Nessy are just as imaginary.