The category they put phones in is 2B, described as follows.
This category is used for agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. It may also be used when there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans but there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. In some instances, an agent, mixture or exposure circumstance for which there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans but limited evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals together with supporting evidence from other relevant data may be placed in this group."I am a geek, possibly scientist, and I like to see things before I believe them. I decided to go and look at the list of substances in the 2B category from the WHO/IARC web site.
The list is quite long, but I want to warn you: it is scary.
One thing that hurts like mobile phones: coffee (bye bye all my Italian friends). Another one: pickled vegetables (bye bye all my Asian friends).
Let me call BS on this. You cannot turn the media loose on something that is possibly carcinogenic. They will run wild and scare the heck out of people. It does not help our industry. If you have real data, show it to us. If you do not have it, please shut up.
I would respectfully ask the WHO for a study around how risky is to talk and walk at the same time. I bet it will deserve a 2A, probably dangerous to humans, definitely fatal for idiots.
While waiting for the next report on how dangerous mobile phone radiation are, I will go back to use a landline, possibly extending a cord out of my office to make sure I can cross the street safely.