Is it true that wireless headphones adversely affect the brain?

In the media, blogs and forums, they often write that wireless headphones are dangerous - supposedly they work at the same frequency as microwaves. Therefore, their carcinogenic effect on the brain is sometimes compared with the effect of her heading to put in the included microwave. We decided to check if such fear is justified.

The danger of wireless headphones with enviable regularity is reported by large media, such as RBC, BFM.ru, "Gazeta.ru". The potential harm of headphones is discussed in articles And columns On sites dedicated to the news of technology, and even on sites dental clinics. On the forums Offer Ask the question: “What is more harmful - to put your head in the microwave or put it (low -power, but for several hours) microwave in the head?” In some articles It is said The fact that wireless headphones, in principle, are safe if you do not twist the volume to the maximum. In others reportedthat only fakes are dangerous. Thirdly Approvedthat the brand and originality do not matter and any wireless headphones carry one or another threat to health. Most often such gadgets They think the cause of malignant neoplasms of the brain also mention their connection With the disease Alzheimer.

Wireless headphones can Work thanks to three different technologies: Bluetooth, radio frequencies and infrared frequencies. The most popular Bluetooth cancer, since two other technologies have a number of restrictions (radio frequency devices need a base station, infrared-finding in the field of direct visibility between headphones and the transmitter). 

Latest version of Bluetooth technology capable Cover the distance up to 1 km, which makes it extremely in demand in various devices: laptops, smartphones, cameras, mice and keyboards, smart watches and headphones. The principle of operation Bluetooth Founded On the use of radio waves. Bluetooth devices transmit signals in the frequency range of 2.4 GHz, which belongs to strip Industry, Science and Medicine (ISM). When the device is activated, it scans this range and prescribes found devices as receivers. The data is transmitted using the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) algorithm, in which the signal frequency changes randomly 1600 times per second - this protects the transmitted information from third -party access.

ISM strip, as you can see from the name, Responced For industrial, scientific and medical devices. This range is really used by both Bluetooth devices and microwaves and other household appliances (for example, heating). This also applies to a number of medical procedures, for example, radio frequency ablation - the method of correction of arrhythmias. However, the frequency used is not the only parameter characterizing these devices. The power of radiation is no less important.

This value Describes SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is a specific absorption coefficient measured in WT/kg. For a mobile phone, this parameter is about 0.5–2.0 W/kg, for the Bluetooth lunards there are much less-0.001-0.003 W/kg. For Comparisons, SAR of the microwave oven when in the immediate vicinity (less than 0.1 cm) - 7.95 W/kg, and at a distance of 5 cm - already less than that of the phone (0.256 W/kg). Safe for health counts SAR up to 2 W/kg, that is, hugging with a working microwave is still not worth it, but the headphones will not cause any harm to the body. Of course, inside the working microwave, a specific absorption coefficient is thousands of times higher, therefore, although wearing headphones on the head and safely, it is definitely not worth it to put your head into the microwave. 

Moreover, the radiation of both the microwave and the Bluetooth loners does not apply to ionizing radiation dangerous to the body. Microwaves Use electromagnetic radiation (that it does not contain enough energy to knock out electrons from atoms, creating ions, break chemical bonds or damage DNA, has already been “tested” It wrote). Wireless headphones Built On the principle of low -energy radio frequency (RF) radiation that cannot harm a person. Moreover, the 2019 study conducted by the specialists of the California public health department, showedthat the radiation level from the Bluetooth lunkers is 10-400 times lower than from the mobile phones themselves, to which they are connected.

There is no evidence that radiation from both wireless headphones and mobile phones increases the risk of malignant neoplasms of the brain, explains John Glass, Director of the Neuroncology Department, in a commentary on the site of university hospitals in Thomas Jefferson. To date, the only reason causing brain tumor is considered radiation therapy, especially the use of large doses of ionizing radiation from gamma, photon or proton rays. Neither heredity nor other external conditions affect the probability of malignant processes in the brain - these diseases arise mainly spontaneously, for unknown and unpredictable reasons. Therefore, at least somehow significantly reduce the risk of such pathologies (as it is Maybe In the case of other neoplasms) is almost unable to man. Fortunately, the malignant formations of the brain are quite rare, the chance that a person will encounter them throughout his life - less than 1%.

Large perennial studies do not show a statistically significant connection between the use of cell phones and brain tumors. In 2009, scientists Bone The result of observation of the inhabitants of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden from 1974 to 2003. They were interested in two types of malignant neoplasms: gliomas (develop from the parenchyma of the brain) and meningiomas (from cells of the spider cerebral membrane). Scientists have not discovered any dependence of the growth of the identified disease on the spread of mobile communications. In 2022 to the same conclusion Helped to come and analysis of medical records of 1.3 million British women. In addition to the two already mentioned pathologies, the researchers tracked the frequency of the pituitary tumors and acoustic neurinoma (benign tumor developing from the auditory nerve cells). Neither daily conversations by phone lasting more than 20 minutes, nor the experience of using phones for more than ten years increased the risk of developing such diseases. Moreover, in a group of patients who actively used mobile communications, the risks of glyama in the temporal and parietal shares were even lower (albeit slightly). The paradox is that it is these zones of the brain that are exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields from cell phones.

Data of the National Institute of Cancer (USA) Showthat the prevalence of oncological diseases of the brain and nervous system has decreased over the past 30 years. In 1992, these pathologies were diagnosed in 6.7 people per 100,000, and in 2022-in 5.7. Mortality from them also reduced (from 4.8 to 4.4 people per 100,000). If mobile phones and wireless headphones had any detrimental effect on health, these indicators had to grow or at least remain at the same level. 

There is also no connection between the use of wireless headphones (or cell phones) and Alzheimer's disease. Main The risk factor is age, people over 65 are subject to this disease to a greater extent than young ones. In second place is family history. Finally, scientists Select A number of genes, among which mutations of some increase the likelihood of developing the disease, and others contribute to protection from it. Other reasons cannot be completely excluded. So, 2019 study showedthat infection with mice with a bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (pathogen of chronic periodontitis) leads to an increase in the production of A1–42 - the main component of amyloid plaques, which are deposited in brain tissues during Alzheimer's disease. 

In addition, separate Experiments They demonstrated: radiation in the same range as they produce mobile phones can improve the condition of the brain of mice with changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The exposure to the electromagnetic field increased the temperature of the brain on a fraction of the degree non -hazardous for life and health, while contributing to the destruction of amyloid plaques. It is too early to extrapolate data on people, however, in theory, treatment with electromagnetic radiation can become an important part of assistance to people with Alzheimer's disease. 

Thus, fears about the connection between the use of wireless headphones and the development of cancer diseases are unfounded. Statistics indicate that there is no growth of malignant neoplasms of the brain and nervous system against the background of the widespread use of these gadgets. Moreover, at least in the United States there is a slight decrease in the prevalence of these pathologies. The radiation from the Bluetooth headset is extremely insignificant, much less produced by mobile phones, and does not bear the risk of either the development of brain tumors or Alzheimer's disease. 

Image on the cover: Image by AI Subarasiki from Pixabay

Not true

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