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As printed in Hearing Health, volume 21:1,
Spring 2005
GUARD, a series of research projects under the direction
of Dr. Paolo Ravazzani of Milan, Italy, and funded by
the European Commission (EC), has set out to determine
if cell phones have detrimental effects on hearing.
Abroad, as well as in the U. S., cell phones have become
irreplaceable as communication tools. The EC therefore
considers frequent cell-phone use an environmental health
issue and any consequent biological effects or risks
as a matter that involves the whole population. Though
not much is known about how cell phones may influence
biological systems, experts speculate that the electromagnetic
fields they produce could affect hearing before any
other system. “Moreover, externally applied electric
and magnetic fields are known to be able to produce some
hearing sensation,” according to GUARD, whose
goal is to learn about the potentially adverse biological
effects of GSM mobile phones on the hearing system of
animals (Sprague-Dawley rats and Guinea Pigs) and humans.
Data from GUARD research will be used to develop adequate
European environmental and health policy measures linked
to the potentially harmful health effects of these
types of electromagnetic fields. For information on
specific research projects, visit www.guard.polimi.it.
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