Letter: Be wise about cell phones

State Rep. Andrea Boland introduced the Children's Wireless Protection Act last winter, which would have placed warning labels on cell phones. Experts from around the world testified in favor of Boland's bill, including Dr. Devra Davis, the author of "Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done To Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family." Scientists, doctors, and nurses were all supporters for the bill.

On June 15, San Francisco passed a right-to-know ordinance, making it the first city in the nation to require cell phone radiation disclosure at the point of sale. On June 30, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich announced his intent to introduce a bill requiring warning labels on cell phones.

After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, I learned that cell phone manuals come with warnings that are being buried in fine print, which nobody reads. I sure didn't. I was shocked to learn that the manual of the BlackBerry Torch warns "Keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inches from your body, including the abdomen of pregnant women and the lower abdomen of teenagers."

I am happy to announce that Portland's mayor, Nicholas Mavodones Jr., has declared October as Cell Phone Awareness Month. To learn more information about safer cell phone use go to Campaign For Safer Cell Phones on the Web. Please protect the brain of you and your family.

Stuart Cobb
Portland