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Cell Phone Effects on Sperm and The Brain: The Dirty Secret Of Cell Phone Testing

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What do sperm and the brain have in common? Both are crucial to the future of the human race. And as research studies show, sperm and the brain both suffer significant effects from cell phone EMF radiation exposure. But there’s more to it. In her 2018 TEDx talk, Dr. Devra Davis, Ph.D., explored the connection between these two disparate parts of the body. And what she says about the dirty secret of cell phone testing may surprise you.

The “Dirty Secret” Of Cell Phone Testing

Dr. Davis is an epidemiologist and international expert on mobile phone radiation.

In her TEDx talk, she discussed the “dirty secret” of the telecommunications industry: cell phones are not tested in the way they’re used. 

SAR (specific absorption rate) levels of cell phones are “tested in a holster, away from the body,” she explained.

So, what would happen if you tested a cell phone in a real-world situation? One in which the phone was held close to the body?

Where do you carry your phone?

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In a scandal known as PhoneGate, the French government tested hundreds of cell phones in real-world conditions. What did they find? That 9 out of 10 phones failed to pass current European safety standards.

And by no small amount either. According to Dr. Davis, “when they were tested by the French government in the shirt or pants pocket equivalent, they issued three to four times more radiation than is currently approved.”

The problem with this is obvious.

We’re falsely led to believe our mobile phones emit a “safe” level of radiation. But by simply carrying our phones in our pockets, we’re absorbing up to four times more radiation than we realize.

What’s interesting about Dr. Davis’ TED talk is that she delves further into the science and the health implications of this fact.

But before that, let’s have a deeper look at what the PhoneGate report found.

What the PhoneGate Report Found

The French government found that 89% of the tested phones exceeded their reported radiation emission levels— some by up to 300%. That means these phones emitted up to four times the radiation the manufacturers claimed.

That sounds pretty bad already. But sadly, that’s not it.

Not only do these phones emit more radiation than the manufacturers claim, but these phones also exceed the legal limits of radiation emissions when held in contact with the human body.

The Environmental Health Trust (EHT) has summarized the data this way:

“French government tests on hundreds of cell phones reveal that in 2015, 9 out of 10 phones exceed the manufacturer’s reported radiation test levels when re-tested in positions where the phone is in contact with the body. The government had refused to disclose these test results until pressure after the court action.”

The data from ANFR’s release is embedded below at the end of this post.

Why Now?

ANFR released the data following the issuance of a court order. This was the result of legal action brought by Dr. Marc Arazi. The French government had initially rejected his petition for the data, which forced him to pursue legal action.

Dr. Marc Arazi

Arazi explains:

“As a physician, I’m deeply concerned about what this means for our health and especially the health of our children. People have a right to know that when cell phones are tested in ways people commonly use phones – such as in direct contact with their body – the values exceed current regulatory limits. This is a first victory for transparency in this industry scandal.”

Why ‘PhoneGate’?

Dr. Arazi and others had dubbed this ‘PhoneGate’ because of the similarities to Volkswagen’s (VW) ‘DieselGate’ scandal.

In the 2015 DieselGate scandal, VW had programmed their diesel cars to emit less pollution in labs than they did when someone used the car in real life. Reports show that the cars actually emitted illegal levels of pollution.

As Dr. Devra Davis, head of the Environmental Health Trust, explains:

“Volkswagen cars passed diesel emission tests when tested in laboratory conditions, but when the cars were driven on real roads, they emitted far more fumes. In the same way, all of these cell phones ‘passed’ laboratory radiation SAR tests.”

She continues: “These phones are legally considered compliant. However, when these phones are tested in the ways that people actually use them in real life, such as in your jeans pocket or bra, the amount of absorbed radiation emissions in our bodies violates the regulatory limits.”

How PhoneGate is Different than DieselGate

Volkswagen rigged its products to intentionally deceive regulators. PhoneGate, on the other hand, is more about the massive discrepancy between how phones are tested and how they are actually used in real life.

In other words, the cell phone makers aren’t deceiving the regulators. Instead, the regulators allow the cell phone makers to deceive the public while still complying with the law.

These tests simply do not match how people actually use phones, and the test results are not indicative of real-life radiation exposures.

For example, in the United States, phones can be tested at distances of 5 to 15mm (0.2 to 0.6 inches) away from the user’s head or body.

But in real life, people who talk on their phone (without using the speakerphone or a headset) hold their phone immediately against their heads—not half an inch away. The same is true for those who carry their phones in their bras or pockets.

So, the scandal here isn’t that the manufacturers are lying—it’s that the tests are rigged to show “safer” levels of radiation emissions and human absorption than we experience in real life.

That’s the problem.

For more details on PhoneGate, check out the data released by ANFR.

Some Updates

Since I first wrote this post in 2017, there have been some newsworthy updates.

In February 2019, Professor Om Gandhi published a peer-reviewed paper in which he examined the ANFR PhoneGate data. Prof. Gandhi found that the phones in the PhoneGate data can emit 11 times more EMF than the US FCC limit and 3 times over French limits in 9 out of 10 phones tested.

13 Updates and Recalls

In April 2019, it was announced that 13 different models of phones were either updated or recalled from the market entirely, based on the PhoneGate data.

Here’s the summary of what happened with those 13 different models.

Cell phoneSAR trunk measuredManufacturer decisionSAR trunk measured after update
Orange HAPI2.1 W/kgWithdrawal from market, recall of models soldNon applicable
NEFFOS  X1 TP9022.52 W/kgWithdrawal from market, recall of models soldNon applicable
Huawei Honor 82.11 W/kgSoftware update1.45 W/kg
Echo Star Plus2.05 W/kgSoftware update1.41 W/kg
Alcatel Pixie 4-6”2.04 W/kgSoftware update1.58 W/kg
Wiko Tommy22.46 W/kgSoftware update1.66 W/kg
Bouygues Telecom
Hisense F232.13 W/kgSoftware update1.46 W/kg
Wiko View2.44 W/kgSoftware update1.34 W/kg
Archos access 503.01 W/kgSoftware update1.36 W/kg
LOGICOM M BOT 692.81 W/kgSoftware update1.51 W/kg
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5SAR head measured 2.08 W/kgSoftware updateSAR head after update 0.356 W/kg
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S2.94 W/kgSoftware update1.42 W/kg
Nokia 52.24 W/kgSoftware update1.81 W/kg
Nokia 32.37 W/kgSoftware update1.64 W/kg

Cell Phone Effects on Sperm and The Brain

Now, with the “dirty secret” of the cell phone industry, revealed, we know that we’re being exposed to levels of radiation magnitudes above what regulators consider “safe.” So, what does that mean for us?

As Dr. Davis explains in her talk, it may well mean our future is at risk.

We know that two of the most common places to have contact with phones are next to the head and the pocket of our pants. But it turns out these two areas are also particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of radiation. 

A cell phone has effects on both sperm and the brain.

This has to do with the fatty nature of both body parts. Brain neurons, for example, are protected by a fatty sheath called myelin.

And according to Dr. Davis, fat plays an important role in attracting and storing toxic materials like pesticides and heavy metals. Therefore “the fat-loving brain, and the fat-happy sperm, both are storage sites for toxic agents.”

She further mentioned that “microwave radiation enhances the absorption of any toxic material in your body. That is why it’s so important to understand that you want to keep these devices off your body, and especially away from your children.”

So, to put it simply, we absorb toxins through our skin or by breathing them in, and the protective fatty coating catches these toxins. But our microwave radiation exposure amplifies the absorption of these toxins. And because of that, those fatty storage sites (the brain and the sperm) have difficulty keeping up.

What We Can Do About It

So, as we’ve discovered from Dr. Davis’ talk, sperm and brain have several things in common. They’re two of the body’s fastest working and fastest growing parts. And while we rarely think of either of them as being “fatty” organs, that’s what they are.

Because fat attracts toxins, and EMFs amplify toxin absorption, that makes them particularly susceptible to the effects of cell phone radiation—especially in younger people.

But the most important link between the two is that they both need our care and protection. Understanding that cell phone testing is done away from the body is a start. We can take measures like keeping our phones out of our pockets or using an Air Tube Headset or the SYB Headset Anti-Radiation Device during phone conversations.

Dr. Davis also points out that melatonin helps to counter and repair damage from EMFs. To produce more of it, don’t use your devices directly before sleep, as this interferes with circadian rhythms and melatonin production.

Taking these simple measures is the first step in protecting both our brains and reproductive organs from EMF-related damage. These body parts are more than important: as Dr. Davis says, our future depends on them.

Introducing the SYB 5G Phone Shield

Today, a huge portion of consumers are aware of the cell phone industry’s worst-kept secret: that EMF radiation from smartphones is causing us harm. Specifically, research points to a growing link between EMF and fertility—particularly in men.

Our specialized 5G Phone Shield is designed to protect your health and future by creating a powerful shield between your phone and your sensitive reproductive organs.

How Does it Work?

When it comes to fertility, the smaller the distance between the cell phone and your organs, the bigger the problem. The trouble is that we keep our cell phones in our pockets for huge portions of the day. Thanks to Bluetooth technology and earphones, our phones are in near-constant use, even when sitting in our pockets.

cell phone testing 5G phone shield

The SYB 5G Phone Shield is designed to help you carry your phone in your pocket much more safely.

Its card-like structure slips between your phone and your body, creating a powerful EMF shield that deflects up to 99% of the radiation from any phone inside that pocket.

Its Design & How to Use

The SYB 5G Phone Shield contains a layer of fabric, interwoven with gossamer-thin metallic threads. The outer layer is coated with vegan leather, making it stylish as well as functional.

It comes in multiple sizes, making it suitable for most phones out there, and it’s extremely easy to use.

To use the 5G Phone Shield, simply slide it into your pocket and put your phone on top of it.

Ensure that this is the case every time: your body— the SYB 5G Phone Shield— and your phone.

Once you do that, your 5G Phone Shield will start protecting your sensitive reproductive organs against the harmful EMFs coming from your phone.

And to put the cherry on top, it doesn’t interfere with your phone’s reception or battery life at all.

Get your own SYB 5G Phone Shield at the SYB Store.

Final Thoughts

Cell phone radiation is harmful, and that’s a research-backed fact. And we’re receiving huge doses of this radiation on a daily basis.

So, now is the right time to start taking precautions—to protect yourself and your loved ones from the potential health effects it may cause.

And the threat isn’t just from cell phones.

Every electrical appliance and wireless gadget you have in your home contributes to a significant increase in your EMF levels.

The first step in dealing with them is to figure out the EMF levels in your home. And you can do that using an EMF meter.

Grab your copy of SYB’s free guide, which contains everything you need to know about home EMF testing, on the “EMF & Product Testing at SYB” page.

Where do you carry your phone?

Want to Slash Your EMF Health Risks?

Good! Learn the one small change you should make right now.

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About the Author

R Blank is the CEO of Shield Your Body, which he founded in 2012. With hundreds of thousands of customers in over 30 countries, and having been interviewed on platforms including Dr. Phil, ABC news television and ElectricSense, R is an internationally followed expert on issues of EMF, health and safety. He also hosts “The Healthier Tech Podcast”, available Apple, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms. In the past, he served on the faculty at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering as well as the University of California, Santa Cruz. Previously, R ran a software engineering firm in Los Angeles, producing enterprise-level solutions for blue chip clients including Medtronic, Apple, NBC, Toyota, Disney, Microsoft, the NFL, Ford, IKEA and Mattel. He has spoken at conferences around the world, including in the US, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and he is the co-author, along with his father Dr. Martin Blank, of ‘Overpowered‘ from Seven Stories Press about the science of health effects of EMF radiation. He has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and received his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Columbia University. He has also studied at Cambridge University in the UK; the University of Salamanca in Spain; and the Institute of Foreign Languages in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Read more about R and SYB or connect with R on LinkedIn.

Have a Question?

I take pride in designing great, effective products, based on real, measurable science – AND taking the time to ensure that each and every one of you has the information you need to understand EMF and make informed decisions.

So if you have a question, just email me and ask.

R Blank

R Blank
CEO, SYB