Chinese brand mobile handset emits more radiation, a leading Cancer Specialist of the country, Dr. Abhishek Shangar said here in Shillong.
Dr. Shankar, a well-known Cancer specialist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, mobile phones emit radiations, but “China-made mobile phones emanate more radiation.”
The specialist doctor is here for a week-long conclave in Meghalaya on Cancer being organised by the North Eastern Council and Pink Chain campaign, an NGO.
Several Chinese companies have flooded the Indian cell phone sector in the recent years with its cheap prices and competitive specs. Some of the most popular Chinese brands are Xiaomi, with its Redimi series phones, Ginonee, Oppo and several others.
Dr. Shankar further stated that cell phones which are on silent and vibration mode emanate more radiation and therefore the best option is to switch it off or put it in aeroplane mode, whenever necessary.
Importantly, Dr. Shankar didn’t give a direct answer when asked if radiations from cell phones and mobile towers are directly linked to Cancer.
He, however, informed that the World Health Organisation is conducting a study on the effects of radiation from cell phones and towers. The report of the findings would be published soon.
“There is big pressure from corporate houses (for obvious reasons,)” Dr. Shankar said, but didn’t elaborate on whom the pressure was being exerted.
Several corporate houses have claimed radiations emitted from cell phones and towers where within permissible limits and doesn’t endanger human health.
Stating “radiation surely causes cancer,” Dr. said that but if these are within permissible limits no harm is caused to human health.
Urging people to go for mandatory screening like Mammography and Pap test, Dr. Shankar said, 80 percent of the Cancer cases in India are detected in the third or fourth stage and the chances of survival in such cases are just 20 percent.
“In the Western countries 80 percent of the cases are detected in the first or second stage and so the survival chances are 80 percent,” he informed.
There are at present 25 million Cancer cases globally and this figure is estimated to increase by 50 percent by 2020. India alone has 2.5 million Cancer patients.
Terming Cancer as a “socio-cultural disease,” Dr. Shankar said a lot of cases are directly linked to the social habits of the people like taking “Pan, Tobacco smoked fish and meat and such other practises.”
He, however added, “Cancer is curable” if people take preventive steps, live a healthy lifestyle and go for regular medical checkups.
