Awareness on Health Hazards of Mobile Phone among Youngsters of Puthupally Panchayat

Athira K .S
B.Ed student (Physical Science)
Mount Carmel college of Teacher Education, Kottayam

Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to understand about the awareness of health hazards of
mobile phone among youngsters. Participants were 50 youngsters of Puthuppally panchayat in
Kottayam district. Self constructed questionnaire was used as the tool for the study. The study
revealed that although most of the youngsters are aware of the harmful effects of the mobile
phone radiation, but they are least bothered about it. 50% of them spend around two hours per
day with their mobile phones. Majority of the youngsters use internet facilities in their mobile
phones.

Introduction

There are now more than 1billion cell phone subscribers, and on an average we spend about
11 hours a month with the gadgets glued to our heads. Cell phones expose us to a form of
electromagnetic radiation called radiofrequency energy. Scientist has suspected that this radiation
might increase the risk of brain cell damage leading to tumors. Mobile phones use transmitted
radio waves through a series of base stations where radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic
fields that cannot break chemical bonds or cause ionisation in the human body, say the World
Health Organisation (WHO). The Federal Communications Commision (FCC) suggests cell
phone users to keep a minimum distance of 20 centimeters from their handset to significantly
reduce radiation exposure. The aim of the present study is to check awareness on health hazards
of mobile phones among youngsters. It is also attempted to make them conscious about the
harmful effects of mobile phone usage.

Objectives of the study

1. To identify the mobile phone habits among youngsters of Puthuppally panchayat.
2. To find out the methods to reduce the effects of radiation due to mobile phones.
3. To make the youngsters of Puthuppally panchayat aware of the harmful effects of
mobile phone.
Methodology
 Survey method was adopted for the study. The sample of this study comprises of 50
youngsters including male and female within the age group 18-30 of Puthuppally panchayat in
Kottayam district. The sample includes college students as well as working persons. A
questionnaire to study awareness on the health hazards of mobile phone usage among
youngsters, prepared by the investigator was used as the tool. The questionnaire consisted of 30
yes/no questions and 6 questions for getting additional information.

Analysis & Interpretation

By analyzing the data collected in the survey carried out among 50 youngsters in
Puthuppally, it was revealed that, 56% of them prefer left ear to keep mobile phone while calling.
64% of the people do not have the habit of keeping mobile phone on the same ear for a long time
which is better than keeping mobile phone on the right ear for a long time. A good thing
observed is that majority of the people are not using mobile phone while driving. Using hand
free facilities while driving helps to reduce the possibility of accidents. It also helps to reduce the
harmful effects of radiation. 38% of people are interested in using hand free facilities. By using
loud speaker mode in mobile phone we can keep a safe distance from our body and 36% of
people are aware of this. 52% of people have wi-fi facilities at their house or working place.
Most of them are not aware of the harmful effects of wi-fi connection. When wi-fi is on, we are
continuously exposed to radiation.

The bad thing observed while analyzing the data is that majority of the people use mobile
phone when battery is low or signal strength is weak. In the instruction book get along with the
mobile phones, we may have noticed that mobile phones must be kept at a safe distance from ear
while calling. But, a very few people are aware of this or obeying this. 72% of youngsters use
mobile phone in confined places such as train, elevator, bus etc where the possibility of radiation
is high. No one is willing to switch off mobile phone when it is not in use. Very attractive mobile
phone covers with metal parts are now available in the market but people are not aware of the
danger behind the use of this. 48% of the people are using these types of covers. The duration of
calling is more than 15 minutes for more than half of the people. Majority of the people are
interested in messaging over calling.
 54% of people are having land phone connection but only 48% of them are interested in
using land phone whenever possible. 42% of the people are continuously exposed to radiation
due to the presence of mobile phone towers within 300 meters radius from home or working
place. Only 2% of the people are aware of the SAR value of mobile phones. 48% of the people
have more than one mobile phone. Majority of the people have smart phones. Most of the people
are having the habit of keeping mobile phones within one meter distance while sleeping.

Nobody is interested in calling back to missed calls. Almost all of the people are using
internet facilities through mobile phones. 72% of people attend calls from unfamiliar numbers.
34% of the people are not aware of the health hazards of mobile phones. 14% of people
experiences health problems such as head ache due to the continued use of mobile phone. 76% of
the people are interested in taking selfies. It is a wide spread trend among youngsters. A very few
people are ready to reduce the use of mobile phones in order to get rid of harmful effects. 82% of
the people give more importance to facilities rather than safety.

Time spend with mobile phone per day

Fig.1 showing the time spend by people with mobile phone per day.

Half of the people are spending around 2 hours per day with their mobile phones. The
percentage of people using it more than 2 hours is only 14 %. Similarly 14 % use it less than 1
hour.

The cost of mobile phone

Fig.2.showing the cost of mobile phone.

Majority of the people are using mobile phones in the range of Rs. 10000-20000. Only 2% use
expensive mobile phones.

The place where people keep mobile phone

Fig.3.showing the place where people keep mobile phone.

38 % of people used to keep their mobile phones in their pockets which are harmful to their
health.

Mobile phone services used by people

Fig4.showing the mobile phone services used.

Majority of the people are using internet facilities in their mobile phones. Only 4% doesnt use
internet facilities in their mobile phones.

Peoples expenditure on mobile phone per month

Fig5.showing the money spend on mobile phone per month.

Majority of the people are spending less than 250 rupees per month for their mobile phone uses.
Discussion

Majority of the youngsters know the health hazards of mobile phone usage but they are
not bothered about it since there is no immediate effects. When the signal strength is poor, the
more radiation it emits. Most of the people dont know this fact and a high percentage of people
used to do this. The same is the case when battery is low. 72% of the youngsters use mobile
phones in confined places such as train, elevators etc. In such places the possibility of radiation is
very high.

Specific absorption rate of mobile phone is a new term to many of us. It is an important
feature of the mobile phone which is neglected by everyone. Mobile phones emit radiation
whenever it is on. No one is ready to switch off the phone after its use. Wi-Fi is also dangerous in
the sense whenever it is on radiation will be emitting.

Conclusion

We cannot avoid mobile phones from our busy life. So we should use it safely. People
should read the instruction manual carefully. More awareness should be given to people
especially to youngsters who are the major users of mobile phones. We have to develop radiation
preventive measures for safer use of mobile phones.

References

www.thehealthsite.com/

www.who.int/features/qa/30/en/

www.thewindowsclub.com/mobile-phones-health-hazards