Almost everybody who has a mobile phone knows how discomforting it is to have a cracked phone. A cracked phone disfigures the phone and makes it difficult to use. But do you know that a broken phone has health implications? Find out in this article.
Cracked phones give off radiations. It is already known that mobile phones are primary sources of EMF radiations. However, when a phone’s screen is broken, the radio-frequency radiation emitted from the phone increases. Thus a cracked phone produces more EMF radiation.
When the screen of a phone is damaged and cracks, we are usually concerned about the phone’s aesthetics and usability. We become worried that the phone may not function very well, and it may look battered. But most people are less concerned about the health implications of cracked phones.
Radiations from Cracked Phones
Generally, mobile phones are sources of EMF radiations. Radiations are emitted from the antenna of mobile phones. These radiations are produced and issued as a result of the phone trying to connect to a cell tower or network base station.
When a phone cracks, it has hairline fractures. These fractures are seen as lines and cracks on the screen of the phone. Because of these lines and fractures, the body is able to absorb more EMF radiation. Thus, the body is exposed to more dangers from EMF emissions through the phone’s cracked screen.
What Are EMF Radiations?
The awareness about EMF radiations is increasing day in, day out, with medical professionals and technology enthusiasts doling out information regarding the effect of the radiation on human health. However, it is a bit surprising to know that some people do not have in-depth knowledge of EMF radiation’s nature and how it affects us as humans.
These people use their electrical and wireless devices without recourse to the effect of the EMF radiation emitted by these gadgets. Others go to work around heavy machines and pieces of equipment known to emit huge amounts of EMF emissions.
In simple terms, EMF radiations are electromagnetic emissions from electrical appliances and wireless devices. These gadgets produce EMF radiation due to their working principle and the inner components of these gadgets.
Apart from the electrical and wireless appliance, structures like cell towers, network masts, base stations, and the likes are also notorious sources of EMF radiations. These radiations have a lot of effect on human health, as recent medical researches and studies have shown that these radiations are dangerous to human health.
Types of EMF Radiations
When we say EMF radiations or emission, we mean the combination of electric and magnetic energy in a waveform. This term is also used to describe mobile phones’ emissions and wireless gadgets known as radiofrequency waves.
These waveforms have different frequencies and wavelengths. Thus, a categorization is made between two types of radiations based on their wavelength and frequencies. These two features will determine the characteristics of the radiations.
1. Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation represents the most dangerous and harmful type of radiation. This is because prolonged exposure to this type of radiation will alter the body system. These alterations can result in the death of the victim.
Another reason why this type of radiation is dangerous is that its effect is instantaneous. This is unlike the non-ionizing radiation, which takes a long time to manifest its effects. Common examples of the radiation include X-ray, gamma rays, and many more.
Ionizing radiation is so dangerous because the radiation waves possess enough energy to displace electrons in a processing called ionization, hence the name ionizing radiation.
The following represents possible occurrences when the ionizing radiation falls on a living thing:
- Cancer could form as a result of cell mutation
- The cells may die from the ionizing effect of the radiation
- The cell could get repaired after damage
2. Non-ionizing Radiation
This type of radiation is the direct opposite of the ionizing radiation. However, this should not be mistaken to mean that the radiation is harmless. You should know that non-ionizing radiation was formerly regarded as harmless.
However, after multiple and continuous research into the radiation has found that assumption to be questionable so much that the International Agency for Research on Cancer published a book as regards the risks of contracting cancer through the radiation. (You can download the PDF here).
EMF radiations are one of the popular examples of non-ionizing radiation. These radiations emanate from wireless and electrical appliances. There have been reports that these radiations can also cause cancer and other health issues such as recurring headaches, insomnia, dizziness, and many more.
Unlike ionizing radiation, the energy emitted by non-ionizing radiation is not sufficient enough to cause ionization. They can, however, vibrate the atom by moving electrons around it. Other examples of non-ionizing radiations are radio waves, microwaves, etc.
Seeing how dangerous these radiations are, adequate steps must be taken to ensure that one is protected from these radiations. The most important step in protecting yourself from these radiations is to ensure that you are distanced from the sources.
Sources of these radiations range from cell phones, laptop computers, base stations to microwave ovens.
Other Dangers of Using a Cracked Phone
Apart from the dangers of EMF radiations, using a cracked phone or phone with a damaged screen poses more health hazards. Some of them include:
Eye Strain
One of the major risks that users of cracked phones stand is a strain of the eye. This risk is manifested in two ways. The first one is the ease of phone use. Mobile phones are usually equipped with a sleek OLED display screen. This type of screen allows users to enjoy a streamlined and excellent view on their phones.
However, when this screen is cracked, it becomes difficult to enjoy such a benefit from the screen. The screen display becomes scarred and difficult to see. As a result, the user of such phones will have to strain their eyes to see things on the phone. This situation can lead to eye strain.
Eye strain can also set in from the use of a cracked phone due to the rays entering the eyes. The rays of light emanating from the phone screen are usually damaging to the human eye. This is why health professionals warn that the phones should be placed at some distance to the eye during use.
However, in the event that the phone screen is damaged and cracked, the eyes can absorb more of these rays, and this can lead to eye strain.
In case you have a cracked phone and you are not sure if you have eye strain, watch out for these symptoms:
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Headache
- Increased sensitivity to light
Damage Your Fingers
You can also damage your fingers when you keep using a phone with a damaged or cracked screen. This is possible as most of the smartphones that are made nowadays use touch-enabled displays. This means that in order to control and use the phone, you touch, swipe, and make other gestures on the screen of the phone with your finger.
Making all of these gestures with your finger on a phone with a cracked screen increases the chance of moving your finger against the cracked screen’s sharp edges, which will result in cuts or slashes on the finger. This type of injury poses a health risk as it can be aggravated if due caution is not taken.
Breakouts
This is one of the results of finger slashes when using a phone with a cracked screen. When you cut your finger with a cracked phone screen, there is a blood release from the cut finger. This blood may settle on the fractures and lines of the cracked screen. This settlement of blood promotes the breeding of germs.
Thus, whenever you pick a call, or the surface of the phone finds its way to your screen, more germs are transferred to the skin, causing dermatitis or skin breakouts.
Nomophobia
Although this effect is not well-pronounced, there have been cases of nomophobia with a lot of people with cracked screens. Nomophobia is the fear of using a mobile phone. While this may be linked to many reasons, it has been discovered that injuries from a cracked phone screen and the difficulty of using a cracked phone screen ranks top of the causes of nomophobia.
These are some of the numerous dangers that could occur with the use of a cracked phone. In order to stay safe and protect oneself from these dangers, it is advisable to repair the screen of a phone and take precautions against EMF radiations from mobile phones.
Conclusion
If you are tempted to continue using your phone after the screen cracked, think again. A cracked phone screen has a lot of disadvantages and adverse health effects, which include increased exposure to EMF radiations, triggering nomophobia, skin breakouts, and many more.
