Does Cell Phone Exposure Weaken Bone Density?

If you wear your cell phone on your hip, or carry it in your pocket, you may be weakening the bones in your body that are in closest proximity to the device. At least, that’s what a new study suggests.

The study found men who routinely wear their cell phone on their belt on the right side have reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the right hip, according to the study by Dr. Fernando D. Sravi of National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

"The different patterns of right-left asymmetry in femoral bone mineral found in mobile cell phone users and nonusers are consistent with a nonthermal effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency waves not previously described," Sravi writes. (Read consumer complaints about cell phone companies).

Electromagnetic radiation

The research team focused on electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, suggesting they can adversely affect bone strength. Other research reports have suggested links between this radiation and the formation of tumors, though the mobile industry is quick to say no definitive link has been made.

In this study, Sravi and his ream measured BMC and BMD at the left and right hip in two groups of healthy men: 24 men who did not use cell phones and 24 men who carried their cell phone in a belt pouch, on the right side, for at least one year.

Measured using a test called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, BMC and BMD are standard markers of bone strength.

Findings

What did they find? Average hip BMC and BMD measurements were not significantly different between groups. However, men who did not use cell phones had higher BMC in the right femoral neck (near the top of the thigh bone): a normal left-right difference that was absent in cell phone users.

The conclusion? Men who wore their cell phones on the right side had a relative reduction in femoral neck BMC in that hip.

The cell phone users also had reduced BMD and BMC at the right outside top of the thigh bone, close to where the phone would be worn on the belt. The difference between this area on the the left and right side was significantly related to the estimated total hours spent carrying a cell phone.

The researchers say very little study has been done concerning the possible affect of cell phones on bone density, but it could be vitally important, especially for a generation that will spend its entire adult life carrying a cell phone.

They say it could lead to a large increase in osteoporosis and other bone diseases as that generation ages.