A radiation shield is a product that protects from the harmful effects of radiation. In most cases, this shield involves some sort of lead covering or covering made with some other material that radiation is known to have a hard time penetrating. Most of the time, it is the medical community that makes the most use of radiation shields. However, mobile phones are now the latest target for those who make these products.
Most people may be most familiar with radiation shield technology as the result of a visit to a doctor’s or dentist’s office. In these cases, the shield is often put onto a patient, and those accompanying the patient, in the form of a lead-lined vest, when having an x-ray performed. The walls may also be coated with a special product to further shield radiation.
The use of a radiation shield in mobile phones is somewhat controversial. While many have concerns about cell phones, the FDA has announced there is no scientific evidence that directly links mobile phone usage to adverse health conditions. Therefore, the official word from the government is that a radiation shield for use with a mobile phone is simply not necessary.
However, others are not so sure there is not some amount of danger and recommend the use of a radiation shield. First, they argue that radiation output from a mobile phone is something that is not disputed. Second, having that so close to one’s head is likely to produce harmful effects from radiation absorption, they argue. Also, the use of a radiation shield, if nothing else, will not cause any further harm, so they say it is better to use one, simply for the sake of caution.
For anyone considering a radiation shield for their mobile phones, there are a number of things to keep in mind. First, not all shields act in the same way. For example, some shields may simply block as much of the radiation as possible. Others may seek to mitigate the potential harmful effects by blocking and absorbing some of the radiation.
Those who are interested in a mobile phone shield should also beware. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that, in many cases, they do not perform as advertised and have very little effect on the amount of radiation being directed at the head. In fact, the FTC has even sued some manufacturers, claiming the products do not live up to their claims.