Comprehension 9 : The mobile phone

(1) We all know that the cell phone is one of the cheapest means of communication. We can communicate with our beloved ones, relatives or any person all around the globe by sending  a text message or by making a call.

(2) One important use of the cell phone is to send text messages. It is an easy way to communicate. We simply type the message, send it and, in just a few seconds, it will reach another person in any place around the globe. Moreover, with the cell phone we even watch the news on TV stations.

(3} Technology certainly plays an important role in our daily life, but too much use of cell phones may be harmful. According to some studies, we are exposed to electromagnetic radiation when we use cell phones. This radiation can cause biological transformations in the human body affecting the brain tissues and causing hair loss, skin reddening, memory loss, brain cancer, and sometimes death. Many researchers warn people against the use of cell phones because they think it causes brain cancer. Yet, there is no scientific evidence so far.

(4) A group of researchers in Europe aretrying to determine the risks of using cell phones through a big project called Cosmos. They are studying the effect of mobile phones on users' health. Professor Lawrie Challis,a member of that group, says : "the study is crucial, and we still do not know if the  use of mobile phones causes cancer or not. He also remarks that,"the balance of evidence suggests that it does not, but we need to be sure."

(5) Dr. Mireille Toledano, another investigator in the same project, suggests that "the best thing we can do now is to observe the health of a large number of users over a long period of time to see if, in the long term, there are any links between cell phone use and cancer". The project will last for more than 20 years, and will involve 250,000 phone users across five different European countries.

(6) In any case, the excessive use of cell phones may be too risky. Cell phones should be used for emergencies and not for long conversations. We need to be cautious, "prevention is better than cure" as the proverb says.