Cellular phones: technological progress or danger for health?

Two days ago, I read a very interesting article about the harmful impact of cellular phones on health. This article talk about a study performed on tomatoes. That experiment showed that after being exposed only ten minutes to the electromagnetic waves of a cell-phone, the tomatoes began to spoil. Another observation but this time made on humans showed that, while using a cell-phone, the part of the brain around the ear was excessively stimulated by the electromagnetic waves emitted by the cell-phone. After years of studies, scientists concluded that a constant use of a cell-phone cause salivary glands and brain cancers. These conclusions lead to an international study which purpose will be to consolidate data collected on the human and to try to find a relation between brain tumors and the use of cellular phones. Of course, cellular phone is a wonderful advance in technology and I am not trying to tell you not to use it but an excessive use of it (as any excess) can have harmful and irreversible consequences on health. So use it whit moderation.

Casino

I was reading the local newspaper this morning, while drinking my orange juice and I found an article about a project to open casinos in Colombus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Supporters of this project assert that the casinos will create more than 34 000 jobs and that it will provide $650 million in tax revenues for the state, counties, cities and school districts. Opponents say that construction of casinos will hurt businesses of the area and lead to a great job loss in those communities.

Here is my opinion about the project. The region of Cleveland as well as other areas of Ohio is stricken by the economic crisis. Would it be very beneficial to open a casino in an area with such economic conditions? Would not it be better to spend the state money in more productive projects that would help Ohio during these hard times? Moreover, it had been proved that where a casino was present the divorce, bankruptcy and gambling addiction rates were much higher than in areas without. Personally, I oppose casinos as well as other things that create addictions. Moreover, I am not sure that casinos can resolve or at least help to resolve the problems related to the economic crisis but instead cause much more damage by making local businesses go bankrupt. We need to keep in mind that casinos are not like we can see on television: the are not places where you can break in the safe and robe the money bur instead places where a lot of people see their lives being ruined by addiction and loans. The project will be voted on November 3^rd and I hope voters will realize the impact casinos can have on the region as well as on people’s lives and will take the right decision.

GMO

Last week, I heard an interesting debate on TV5 about pros and cons of Genetically Modified Organisms – more widely known as GMO.

I spent some time to look at this topic and try to make my own opinion on this subject.

I like the concept to use the progress of Science to improve the quality of the product.

However it becomes more frightening when you know the worldwide controversies about GMO and the unlit areas still existing concerning the potential impacts on human health.

Even if Health Organizations officials conclude of no impact on the heath, it remains questionable to know how they can come to this conclusion.

Are tests on animal sufficient to conclude on effect on human being? What is the reliability of these tests? Are these tests and results under control?

Monsanto, American Biotechnological and Agricultural leader remains silent when questioned on this topic and some prooves had been accumulated that showed that Monsanto has falsified some results that showed the negative effects on rat organism.

We may feel nervous as we know that Worldwide producer of GMO and growth hormone is Monsanto. Everybody has in mind the Agent Orange, a highly carcinogenic component produced by Monsanto and used during Vietnam war, which caused the death of more than 500 000 people and caused thousands children to be born with disabilities.

Another question to be asked is if Biotechnological and Agricultural companies considered long term trials to evaluate the potential long-term effect on health.

I am concerned by the fact that the number of cancers has significantly increased as GMO products were introduced in the food chain. A simple and well known example concerns the recent change of the omega3/omega6 in our plate and its effects on our health.

Did any study evaluate the consequences on human health when it was decided to change cattle feeding from grass - well balanced in omega3/omega6 - to industrial corn and soya feeding depleted in omega3 – in order to increase milk, and beef production and make more money?

Probably not as such trials would have taken too much time, would have cost too much money and delayed the introduction of the product for a long period of time. It is probable that economic reasons have prevailed on safety considerations. If it is the case, I wonder how decision makers can consider money in first place before thinking the health of the worldwide population.

On this debate, a specialist said that the United States was the only country that does not require the agro alimentary industry to indicate clearly on the labels if the product is genetically modified. This debate dates from 6 months so decisions might have been taken to resolve this problem.

Saying that and considering the complexity of the topic, I think that everybody should at least have the possibility to make his own choice. An international regulation making mandatory the labeling on packaging on GMO content would be a first step toward a significant improvement.