By Associated Press | March 21, 2005
CHICAGO -- There were two things 11-year-old Patty Wiegner really, really, really wanted for Christmas. One was a furry, playful dog that's now filling her parents' home with the sound of barking. The other gift makes a different kind of noise -- it has a ring tone that mimics rapper 50 Cent's hit song 'Candy Shop.'
While some might question why someone so young might need one, and some scientists have expressed health concerns, Patty is one of many kids her age who are asking their parents for cellphones. And increasingly, they're getting them.
Long-term health risks remain unclear By Associated Press | March 21, 2005
SEATTLE -- Parents should think twice before giving in to a middle-schooler's demands for a cellphone, some scientists say, because potential long-term health risks remain unclear.
Researchers have speculated for more than 10 years that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellphones may damage DNA and cause benign brain tumors, said Henry Lai, a bioengineering professor at the University of Washington.