Apple's AirPods Pro and other wireless headphones emit small amounts of radio-frequency radiation. So do cellphones. Scientists still aren't sure if the dose is enough to harm us, and the studies they've done so far suggest that radiation from cellphones (which is a far greater amount than what Bluetooth devices emit) isn't leading to more cancer. The evidence we have so far suggests that consumers should probably be more worried about jamming something noisy into their ear canals every day than the radiation those devices emit. If you've been on the internet lately, you might've heard that you should be worried about how Bluetooth headphones, such as Apple's $250 AirPods Pro, are affecting your risk of developing cancer. The short answer: Everybody, calm down. There's nothing especially harmful about Bluetooth radiation compared with other electronic devices. Still, like many of the other electronics that surround us, scientists can't say for sure this wireless technology is 100% harm-free. The hubbub stems largely from a Medium blog post that came out earlier this year. The post cites Jerry Phillips, a biochemist who has studied DNA damage from electromagnetic fields. His research suggests it's possible, but not certain, that electromagnetic-field activity might be messing with human DNA in a harmful way and that people should limit their exposure as a result. "My concern for AirPods is that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation," he said. There's no conclusive evidence that AirPods Pro or other Bluetooth headsets are dangerous There's really no evidence that radio-frequency (RF) radiation can cause brain cancer or noncancerous brain tumors in people. The author of the post also said that, in 2015, a group of more than 200 international scientists sent an "appeal" to the United Nations and the World Health Organization "expressing 'serious concern' about the non-ionizing electromagnetic field (EMF)" that is emitted by Bluetooth devices, such as AirPods. That's true, but the letter in question didn't specifically mention Bluetooth devices or headphones. The scientists behind that letter are concerned about all kinds of electronics that emit nonionizing electromagnetic fields — the energy waves that travel at the speed of light in many electronics, including cellphones, WiFi devices, smart meters, baby monitors, and broadcast antennas. "EMF Scientists have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to radiation from wireless devices and antennas from all sources, including the pulsed digital signals Bluetooth transmits," Elizabeth Kelley, the director of the International EMF Scientist Appeal, told Business Insider in an email. However, most other scientists still hesitate to say there is conclusive evidence that the small doses of radiation from cellphones and Bluetooth headsets are dangerous. "They don't have enough energy to cause cancer by directly damaging the DNA inside cells," according to the American Cancer Society. The radio waves of electric and magnetic energy that radiate from cellphones, radios, and other types of wireless technology, such as Bluetooth, are different from stronger types of radiation we're exposed to, including X-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, which can break the chemical bonds in DNA. In fact, as the California Department of Public Health has said, holding a cellphone up to your face emits much more RF energy than Bluetooth headsets, such as AirPods. (AirPods Pro use the same type of Bluetooth technology that's in regular AirPods. The new "pro" noise-cancelling function does not rely on any radio-frequency radiation. Instead, the new AirPods create their own sound waves which cancel out other noises.) There's evidence that cellphone radiation can be harmful to rats but not humans Shutterstock Scientific studies to date don't suggest this kind of phone radiation is harmful to humans in the way that bigger doses of radiation from X-rays or solar UV rays are. But the same isn't true for rats. The US National Toxicology Program has found "clear evidence" that male rat exposure to extensive daily cellphone radiation is linked to more heart tumors, as well as "some evidence" that it's linked to more brain tumors. They can't say the same for female rats, or for mice (both male and female). As scientists have found many times before, just because something happens in lab rats doesn't mean the same will happen in humans. It's tough to know if the dose of radiation from a cellphone that humans are exposed to, day in and day out, is doing people any harm. The evidence we have so far isn't convincing. One 10-year study across 13 countries that the International Agency for Research on Cancer conducted on cellphone-radiation risks concluded that there's no increased risk of brain tumors in average cellphone users, but those scientists cautioned that more research is needed on some of the most intense phone users. (Again, the dose of radiation from Bluetooth devices is lower than from a cellphone.) If you are worried about radiation risks, Kelley recommends swapping out Bluetooth headphones for wired headphones. Even that technique leaves only a few feet of space between your brain and the RF radiation from your cellphone. Whether you use AirPods, or any other kind of audio-listening device, it's probably best to spend more time worrying about moderating volume. There, the science is more conclusive. Constant, repeated exposure to loud noises can lead to noncancerous acoustic neuroma tumors that cause hearing loss, as well as constant ringing in the ears called tinnitus. If that happens, you might have to put a different kind of wireless technology into your ears. It's called a hearing aid. Update: This story was originally published on March 21, 2019. It has been updated with details about the new AirPods Pro.<doc-sep>Could wireless headphones pose a cancer risk? (Apple) The white toothbrush-heads of Apple’s Airpods have become an iconic new technology, and are to be seen everywhere this year, having sold 28 million worldwide. But could wireless Bluetooth headphones such as Airpods pose a cancer risk? A group of 250 experts have signed a United Nations and World Health Organisation expressing ‘serious concern’ about the risks of Airpods and similar wireless headphones, as well as other wireless devices. Devices such as Airpods comply with legal limits for electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radio waves – but the 250 experts worry that the guidelines are too lax. Jerry Phillips, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado said that wireless headphones pose a particular concern due to the fact they’re worn in the ear canal. Read more: New 50p coin will honour Stephen Hawking IRA claim responsibility for parcel bombs sent to London and Glasgow No MPs think Theresa May has been the best prime minister of past 30 years Philips said, ‘My concern for AirPods is that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation.’ The scientists wrote, ‘Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. ‘Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans.’ The petition demands that existing guidelines be strengthened and the public be better informed of the risks of radio waves. The subject is highly controversial, and previous studies proving a ‘link’ between devices such as mobile phones and cancer have been dismissed. Other scientists say there is no risk with Kenneth Foster, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, saying ‘these arguments have no credibility’, according to a Medium post. Story continues Yahoo has reached out to Apple for comment. —Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK—<doc-sep>Yes, Bluetooth radiation is a thing—but that doesn't mean you should freak out about your wireless earbuds. The internet is abuzz today with worries about the latest tech-fad-turned-health-hazard, with headlines warning that wireless headphones—like Apple’s trendy AirPods—are a potential source of cancer. And yes, articles claiming that the little white devices could “pump radiation into your brain” certainly caught our attention. But before we freak out too much, let’s look at all the facts. Those headlines you may be seeing today seem to stem from a Medium article published last week, which posed the question, “Are AirPods and Other Bluetooth Headphones Safe?” The article quotes Jerry Phillips, PhD, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who says he’s concerned about AirPods because “their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation.” The article also points out that Phillips is “not alone” in his concerns about wireless Bluetooth devices, citing a petition addressed to the United Nations and the World Health Organization and signed by 250 researchers from more than 40 countries. But here’s something that’s getting lost in the news reports this week: That petition doesn’t mention AirPods by name, or even wireless headphones. Rather, the letter expresses “serious concern” about the potential health risks of non-ionizing electromagnetic field (EMF) technology, which is used by all Bluetooth devices. The petition’s not new, either. It was first published in 2015 and last updated on January 1 of this year. Among the devices it calls out by name are “cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors.” Ken Foster, PhD, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania whose research involves the safety of electromagnetic fields, says he’s not buying the latest hype about earbuds. “What’s the news here? Someone’s trying to play the media by resurrecting this petition,” he tells Health. Yes, it’s true that wireless Bluetooth headphones emit radiation. It’s also true that Apple sold an estimated 28 million pairs of its iconic AirPods last year—and that there’s not a ton of long-term research on the safety of this type of radiation. But that doesn’t mean there’s not any research: The federal government does set safety standards for the amount of radiation that can be emitted from consumer devices, and Bluetooth devices are well below that level—even when placed directly against the skin. Plus, Foster points out, the AirPod antenna that actually receives and transmits radio waves doesn’t sit inside the ear canal; it’s in the section that remains outside and extends down, below the ear. Bluetooth devices also give off less radiation than cell phones—only about one-tenth or less, Foster points out. “If you also use a cell phone on a daily basis, it’s bizarre to worry about the hazards of these earphones,” he says. Sure, if you use them for hours a day to listen to music or podcasts, of course, that exposure could add up. But if you're using them mainly to have phone conversations, you’ll actually get less exposure than if you were to hold the phone up to your head. “I can’t say there’s absolutely no problem with these devices, because people can always argue that there’s no proof they’re 100% safe,” says Foster. “And I can’t tell people what to worry about—but personally, I have no concern.” If people want to be overly cautious, he adds, they can simply stop using wireless headphones. “But they should also be aware they’re getting similar exposure from their cell phones and from other Bluetooth devices,” Foster says. Last year, the state of California issued recommendations for people who want to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation. The guidelines note, although there’s been no definitive link between health risks and radio frequency energy, that "some laboratory experiments and human health studies have suggested the possibility that long-term, high use of cell phones may be linked to certain types of cancer and other health effects.” The guidelines recommend keeping phones away from the body when they’re not in use, sleeping with phones away from the bed, and using headsets or headphones to conduct phone calls. They point out that Bluetooth devices also emit radiation (at lower levels than cell phones), and that wireless devices should be removed from the head and ears when not in use. Last week’s Medium article also makes a smart suggestion for those wishing to lower their exposure to radiation: Stick with wired headphones instead of wireless, suggests Joel Moskowitz, PhD, the director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California at Berkeley. (Yes, you may need an adapter to make those old-school earbuds work with your new phone. But on the bright side, you won’t have to charge them!) And no matter what type of headphones you use, Foster points out, it’s important to watch out for health risks that may be more immediate than tiny amounts of radiation. “If you’re walking around with your earbuds blasting and you walk out in front of a car, that’s a lot more dangerous than some theoretical tumor 20 years down the road,” he says. “If you want my advice, it’s to watch out for that.”<doc-sep>The petitioners noted the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined EMF is “possibly carcinogenic” to humans and said previous research has linked neurological disorders and DNA damage with EMF exposure as well. In a Medium article published in March 2019, one scientist specifically expressed concerns about AirPods, wireless earbuds announced by Apple in 2016. The headphones use Bluetooth technology, a type of EMF. “My concern for AirPods is that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation,” said Jerry Phillips, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Existing evidence “indicates potential concerns for human health and development from all technologies that operate at radio frequencies,” he added, listing tumors and abnormal cell functioning as some of the potential risks. Although high levels of EMF can generate heat, cause burns and affect cell growth in humans, scientists have not determined the impact of large amounts of relatively low-level EMF exposure, produced by devices like the AirPods. Apple has previously responded to concerns about radiation risk. "Apple products are always designed and tested to meet or exceed all safety requirements," Apple spokesperson Alex Kirschner said in 2016 when the AirPods first launched. While the petition does not mention AirPods, the experts said several agencies have not provided sufficient guidelines to protect the general public from the effects of EMF generated by other wireless devices. “Various agencies setting safety standards have failed to impose sufficient guidelines to protect the general public, particularly children who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMF,” the petition read. “By not taking action, the WHO [World Health Organization] is failing to fulfill its role as the preeminent international public health agency.” » RELATED: 7 surprising things that can increase your risk of cancer<doc-sep>
A recent report gained traction on Medium discussing whether Apple AirPods cause cancer through radiation. This data is based on a petition to the United Nations and the World Health Organization that was signed in 2015. Some experts argue that the level of radiation emitted from Bluetooth wireless devices is dangerous. However, other experts state that the levels of radiation are less than cell phones and we should be fine using wireless headphones. Last week, some tech fans became concerned after freelance writer Markham Heid published an article on Medium that examined the safety of AirPods and similar wireless Bluetooth headphones. The piece, which gained traction online and was recently covered by other news outlets, had some questioning: Do AirPods actually cause cancer? The answer isn't simple. Here, we break it down. In his piece, Heid spoke with Jerry Phillips, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who said, “My concern for AirPods is that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radiofrequency radiation." However, Phillips clarified that the risk is not solely limited to AirPods, but that there also is evidence for "potential concerns for human health and development from all technologies that operate at radio frequencies." Those may include cellphones, cordless phones, cell towers, radio, Wi-Fi, and more. Stephen Lam Getty Images Phillips is one of the nearly 250 scientists from across 40-plus countries that signed a 2015 petition to the United Nations and World Health Organization seeking for better protection from and further study on the increasing exposure to "non-ionizing electromagnetic fields [EMF]." The petition, which was initially released on May 11, 2015 and revised on January 1, 2019, also stated that there are health risks to humans, animals, and our environment. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, EMFs "are invisible areas of energy, often referred to as radiation, that are associated with the use of electrical power and various forms of natural and man-made lighting." The petition warns that negative side effects of EMF exposure could include: "increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans." The Institute adds that EMFs are divided into two groups: non-ionizing, "low-level radiation which is generally perceived as harmless to humans," and ionizing, "high-level radiation which has the potential for cellular and DNA damage." The radiation released by wireless devices and Bluetooth technologies, like AirPods, is non-ionizing, Heid wrote. There's limited research on Bluetooth specifically, but the greater research on EMFs and their side effects suggest that wireless headphones may cause health risks, according to petition signatory Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California at Berkeley. However, Apple has previously responded to apprehensions regarding AirPods by saying it complies with current safety guidelines, according to Heid. You don't necessarily have to give up your beloved wireless headphones altogether, unless you want to err on the side of caution. Dr. Michael Schulder, Director of Northwell Health's Brain Tumor Center in Lake Success, New York, told Men's Health: "We cannot avoid radiation in our lives even if we lived a completely pastoral existence off the grid. For me, the added convenience of the AirPods doesn’t matter so I choose not to use them." Wireless headphones even gives off less radiation than our mobile devices do, Schulder added. "There has not been a major bump in tumors to suggest that cell phones are causing [them] and we know that the Bluetooth radiation is less than cell phones themselves," he explained. If you're still open to wearing wireless headphones, consider adding the below stylish auditory accouterments to your collection. Nicole Saunders Freelance Writer Nicole Saunders is a New York-based writer covering fashion, beauty, wellness, and entertainment.