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00:01This is a special edition of Marketplace.
00:04Most of us carry our phones next to our body.
00:07And why wouldn't we?
00:09Science, tests, and the hidden message in your cell phone.
00:13I can't find it.
00:14Such information about health cannot become a fine print.
00:17We test the top selling brand.
00:19So the results are in?
00:20We got the results.
00:21Are you surprised?
00:22I don't think I'll carry it the same way I have been.
00:24No, I'm a little bit worried.
00:26This is your Marketplace.
00:29There's a secret inside our phones.
00:31Really?
00:32Some would even call it a warning.
00:34Where would I be able to find you?
00:37It's a message that cell phone makers are required to share,
00:41but most have never seen it and can't even find it when they try.
00:45Control Centre?
00:47General?
00:49I can't find it, I'm going to be honest.
00:51That's how it looks?
00:53The message on my phone says,
00:55To reduce exposure to RF energy, use a hands-free option, such as speakerphone,
01:00to carry the phone at least five millimeters away from your body
01:04to ensure exposure levels remain at or below the as-tested levels.
01:09So, don't leave it in your pocket?
01:21I never hold my cell phone 1.5 centimeters from my body.
01:24Ever.
01:25What does that mean?
01:27Exactly what that message means is what I'm trying to figure out.
01:30Why are we being told to keep our phones away from our body?
01:34I did my first story on cell phones almost 20 years ago.
01:38Is your study something that the cell phone industry was watching?
01:42Yes, of course.
01:43There wasn't a lot of science back then.
01:45A thimble full of research is what we have now.
01:47But suspicions were starting to grow that cell phone use had some health risks.
01:52When did you start to think this has something to do with a cellular phone?
01:56I think when I saw the first MRI and saw the location of the tumor.
02:00Also growing was the suspicion that we're not being told the whole story.
02:04Industry can be really, truly malignant.
02:07There are no adverse health effects in fields of this nature.
02:11The industry clearly is hands-off.
02:13Shouldn't we know the answer by now?
02:15All these years later, I'm still asking the same questions.
02:18Are cell phones safe and are we being told enough to make that decision for ourselves?
02:23There's a city in California that doesn't think we are.
02:28Berkeley is a great example of the battle between the people who think that the public needs to know more about cell phones
02:37and the cell phone industry that thinks that people have been told enough.
02:42City Council actually passed something called an ordinance, ordering all of the phone stores in the city to put up a sign.
02:49Hi there. I'm good. How are you?
02:52So when you walk in, you see the message that's inside your phone actually up on the counter.
02:59So they do have it here.
03:01And then they think that people will have more information.
03:04Hi there.
03:05They might change their behaviour or they might choose not to change their behaviour.
03:10The city is in a new battle over what it can say about cell phones and your cancer risk.
03:24Berkeley's got the message out.
03:26But those signs have stirred up a lot of controversy.
03:29For now, this law is in effect.
03:32The cell phone industry wants them to come down.
03:35Face off today between two very high profile attorneys over the issue of cell phone radiation warnings.
03:41On the cell phone industry side, the same lawyer who fought for big tobacco.
03:46There are no link between cell phones and any known health problems.
03:50They're arguing that the signs are alarmist.
03:53The total effect, your honour, is watch out.
03:56But Berkeley is standing their ground.
03:59All we've done is to make sure that consumers are aware of this basis.
04:03The fight is expected to go all the way to the Supreme Court.
04:06We will let you know when he issues his ruling.
04:09Did you have any idea that this would lead to this?
04:12I did.
04:13You know, cities have been trying to educate consumers about the effect of RF radiation and safe use guidelines for years.
04:21Mayor Jesse Araguin is on the front lines in this battle over the right to know more.
04:26They say that that message is baseless.
04:29That you have no scientific proof that there's any safety concern.
04:32All we are asking that stores do is provide the same information that the federal government mandates.
04:40And that's already supposed to be disclosed.
04:43There's like less than 20 mobile stores here.
04:46Why is it such a big case for the wireless industry?
04:50I think the concern on the part of the telecommunications industry is if we can do it in Berkeley,
04:55then other cities will do it as well.
04:58You're going to stick with it?
04:59We're going to stick with it.
05:00At the heart of the message the cell phone industry doesn't want displayed,
05:04information on how to make sure you're not exposed to radiation levels above the government's safety limit.
05:11Whether it suggests carrying the phone at 5, 10 or 15 millimetres away from the body depends on how it was tested.
05:19I would say these are the best sellers out of all three brands.
05:22So before leaving Berkeley, I pick up a few phones to find out what that testing is about.
05:29Here you are. Thank you very much.
05:32Have you ever seen the testing before?
05:37All these stories about cell phones, I've never actually seen the testing.
05:41The lab we're going to is one of many that's hired to test and certify the phones before they're allowed out on the market.
05:48So they're going to show us how that testing works.
05:52But also we've asked them to do an extra test for us because we want to see what happens,
05:56what results they get when they test the phone the way people actually use them right up against the body.
06:03So the chief engineer at this lab, his name is Jay Moulton, and he's going to do the test for us today.
06:09So we've got three phones here for testing from the top three manufacturers.
06:15And the big sellers are the Samsung Galaxy, the LG 5, and the iPhone 7.
06:24Okay.
06:25So this is it?
06:26This is it.
06:29Moulton was part of an international committee that designed this testing standard.
06:34What are you going to start with?
06:35Well, we'll start with the head measurement.
06:40What is the wand actually looking for?
06:42It's looking for the highest amount of electric field coming into the tissue.
06:47This is supposed to represent what happens inside the brain?
06:50Yes.
06:51Just like for the manufacturers, our phones will be tested at the highest power level possible.
06:56So it'll be transmitting as if you were as far away from a base station as you can get and still make a call.
07:01My phone's trying extra hard.
07:03This is the worst case it could ever get to be for a cell phone.
07:07We put it into the holder, move it up close to the head, and then I just, at this point, I'm going to adjust to set it so that the speaker is right at the edge of the ear.
07:17That plastic ear is six millimeters thick and positions the phone at the distance it's assumed we hold it.
07:24And if you're thinking that head looks big, it's because it is.
07:27The head was designed based on a 1950s army study of all the army men and they came up with an average size head.
07:36This idea was devised before little kids started using phones.
07:40Yes.
07:41This one-size-fits-all model is just one of the reasons critics say it's time for the testing to change.
07:50I'm in Washington, D.C.
07:51D.C. Deborah Davis.
07:52She's a toxicologist, senior epidemiologist.
07:56When I first met her about ten years ago, she told me that the testing method doesn't at all take into effect the size of a child's brain.
08:05You see here this side showing you the brain of an adult.
08:09So this is where the cell phone would sit.
08:11And this is the radiation that's absorbed?
08:13Yes.
08:14This is the one we're most concerned about.
08:17This is the head of a five-year-old.
08:19She was a big part of the fight to get lead out of drinking water.
08:23She fought against tobacco.
08:25And now, actually for many years now, she's been fighting to tell people that they should be concerned about cell phones.
08:34When I first interviewed you many years ago, you were persuaded there was a problem.
08:38You're still persuaded?
08:39Oh, more than ever, unfortunately.
08:41Why?
08:42Well, the science has progressed without any question.
08:46We have more experimental data on animals.
08:48Unfortunately, we have more data on people.
08:51How much more science is there now?
08:53I'd say it's doubled since I first really became aware and wrote about this in 2007.
09:00Among the recent research, a $25 million study on rats by the U.S. government, the largest they've ever done.
09:07The findings were released just last year.
09:09It was set up to answer the question whether or not there was any effect on health from low levels of radiation like those from cell phones.
09:18The scientists running the study thought it would find nothing.
09:21They were astonished when they showed this increase in highly malignant, aggressive tumors of the brain and the heart.
09:28Astonished because some rats were exposed to radiation levels below the safety limit that cell phones have to meet.
09:35The findings were deemed so important, those heading it wasted no time letting the regulators know.
09:40Canada was looped in too.
09:42But when we ask Health Canada about it, they say, while some argue this study provides conclusive evidence,
09:49there are numerous scientific questions to be addressed.
09:52Health Canada isn't the only one with questions.
09:56For many, it comes down to this.
09:58If cell phones are a problem, where are all the brain tumors in humans?
10:03This is one of the worst tumors we've ever seen in a guy who said he lived on his phone.
10:09In Edmonton, neuro-oncologist Dr. Jay Esau recently helped launch a brain tumor registry.
10:16As soon as the tumor is growing, it's putting pressure on the skull.
10:19To track what we're seeing in Canada.
10:22So you're looking for answers.
10:24100%.
10:25What are your suspicions?
10:27I believe that we're going to see more and more studies that show a correlation between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors.
10:37There's no question that we are seeing more young people coming into clinic with brain tumors.
10:42And the question is why.
10:44But your message is not reflected by like Health Canada.
10:48Yeah.
10:49What do you think of that?
10:50You know, I understand why.
10:53Because the data that are out there are so controversial.
10:58And in Health Canada's position, they have to look at the data and they have to come to a conclusion.
11:03And that truthfully, the data are inconclusive.
11:06Why is there not more data?
11:08Do you know why?
11:10I'll tell you, even in our own clinic, we've tried to keep track of this.
11:13And when we ask a patient about their cell phone use, we're asking them to remember.
11:19And that's just not reliable.
11:22And that's why it's important to get the message out now.
11:24We need to at least get young people and adults to start thinking about their use.
11:29And doing things that potentially can help protect them.
11:33Have you ever done that test for anyone else?
11:36No, I haven't.
11:37Because it's not a requirement, so the manufacturers don't do it very often.
11:40New tech?
11:41Old safety rules?
11:43This is your Marketplace.
11:46Science, tests, and your phone on your Marketplace.
11:51Questions around cell phone safety have now spanned decades.
11:58As the science mounts on both sides, so do criticisms over how much we're being told.
12:04Such information about health cannot become a fine print.
12:08I do think that information should be made more available.
12:18Why the concern?
12:19It's constantly emitting microwave radiation.
12:21And that radiation, if it's right next to your body, gets into you.
12:24Whether it's your breast or your pants pocket.
12:27Reality is, every millimetre closer to the head or body you keep a phone, you can get more radiation.
12:36So why does the government allow phones to be tested at a distance?
12:41Okay, so this is where we do the body measurements is on the flat phantom.
12:45And what will happen when we test them the way you actually wear them?
12:50So first you're going to do it with the distance?
12:52Yeah.
12:53Chief Engineer Jay Moulton is helping us find out.
12:56First measurement, what we'll do is with a five millimetre gap, which this is a five millimetre distance.
13:03Because that's how they test it?
13:05This is how Apple did the original test.
13:08Apple tests closer than many at five millimetres.
13:12LG does their testing at 10.
13:14Samsung tests this phone at 15.
13:17That's a full centimetre and a half away from the body.
13:20The maximum allowed.
13:21That seems like, who wears their phone 15 millimetres away?
13:24It's a big gap.
13:25A gap that was designed in the day of holsters.
13:29When was the last time you saw somebody with a phone there who wasn't under age 70?
13:34Why don't they test the way that people use it, like next to the body?
13:38I think if phones were tested the way people use them, none of them would pass.
13:42The results from the first test, the way manufacturers do it, are in.
13:46All three phones come within the safety limit.
13:49Okay, so that's no surprise to you?
13:51That's no surprise.
13:52Time to start our test the way most of us carry them.
13:56We'll roll this thing all the way up until it touches and has a zero gap.
14:01Have you ever done that test for anyone else?
14:04No, I haven't because it's not a requirement so the manufacturers don't do it very often.
14:09Not required, even though most people we talk to say this.
14:13Yeah, I definitely would not carry it five millimetres for my body.
14:17I would have it very close to me.
14:19It's in my knee pocket over here or it's in my back pocket.
14:22But what harm could that do?
14:31We have known now for more than 10 years that men who keep phones in their pocket have lowered sperm count.
14:38They have poorer sperm quality.
14:40Young women sometimes wear their phones in their bra correctly.
14:44This is an MRI that was shared with us by our colleague Dr. John West of a 21-year-old.
14:52These are tumours in her breast, the hot spot right here, right under where the phone was kept.
14:59But how do you know that could be caused by a cell phone?
15:02We don't know, but what we know is this.
15:05It's extraordinarily unusual for a young woman to have one breast cancer.
15:10To have two, three or four and they all develop as separate tumours under the antenna of the phone.
15:18That's beyond coincidence.
15:21A link between breast cancer and phones hasn't been proven.
15:25But for Davis, case reports like this are worrisome.
15:28We think this is enough of a concern that we're telling people, please be aware of this.
15:34This is why she argues phones should be tested the way we wear them.
15:38So what happens when they are?
15:41So the tests are all done?
15:43Tests are all finished.
15:44And?
15:45The number exceeded the limit.
15:47It went up significantly with each one of the phones.
15:51That's right.
15:52The phones exceeded the safety limit when they were moved right against the body.
15:57The radiation absorbed increased three to four times.
16:01Does that concern you?
16:02No, primarily because this is a worst case test to where everything is at max power, maximum worst condition.
16:12We shared our results with all three manufacturers.
16:15LG told us they take the responsibility of producing safe products seriously and test according to the guidelines.
16:23Samsung says their phones meet or exceed all regulatory standards.
16:28As for Apple, they have no comment and refer us back to that message in our phones.
16:36Health Canada, on track or behind the times?
16:39They don't want to investigate this.
16:41I think they're looking for any excuse they can find to continue with the status quo.
16:47The former head of Microsoft Canada speaks out.
16:50This is your Marketplace.
16:55This is your Marketplace.
16:587 out of 10 people say they carry their phones in their pocket or against their bodies.
17:05But when we tested three popular brands, the way you wear them,
17:09all went over Canada's limits on radiation exposure.
17:13It's kind of scary.
17:15I don't think I'll carry it the same way I have been.
17:17No, I'm a little bit worried.
17:19He may be worried, but Health Canada says it's not,
17:22because their safety limits include a wide safety margin
17:26to ensure radiation exposure stays far below the threshold of harm.
17:31They're saying that the testing is so safe that there's no way that we could be at harm.
17:38The system is out of date.
17:41It's testing something that's not relevant to how we use phones
17:44or to the ways that we know phones can affect our health.
17:47Just keep it 15 millimeters away from your body.
17:50Canadian groups have been urging Health Canada to reassess those safety limits too,
17:55since science now shows possible harm below the level that phones are tested for.
18:00We're stuck in this quagmire of believing this science that's decades old.
18:06Frank Clegg's the former president of Microsoft Canada.
18:10Now, he heads a group advocating for safer use of technology.
18:14There are dozens and dozens of studies that we've presented to Health Canada
18:18that show harm at levels below Canada's guidelines.
18:21He thought they were making headway when a couple of years ago,
18:24the government agreed to review the issue.
18:27Over 200 studies were submitted by Clegg's group, research on humans and animals,
18:32suggesting potential harm, everything from behaviour changes to DNA damage
18:37and sperm abnormalities, all at radiation levels below what phones are tested for.
18:43Clegg was told many don't meet Health Canada's bar.
18:47He wants to know why.
18:49I think they're looking for any excuse they can find to continue with the status quo.
18:54We asked repeatedly to speak with Health Minister Jane Philpott,
18:58but she declined our request for an interview.
19:01So, we took our questions to cancer epidemiologist Paul Demers.
19:06The evidence that comes out, I believe, is still mixed.
19:10Demers was asked to review the science on cell phones for Health Canada.
19:14So, what is your bottom line then?
19:16Are the way that we use cell phones now, are we safe?
19:21Well, I believe we are.
19:23The fact is we don't have, at least when I looked at the evidence last,
19:28we don't have the evidence to say that there are adverse health effects.
19:31There are other scientists that I respect who are more convinced.
19:35What do you do with your phone?
19:37I keep it in my pants pocket so it's handy.
19:41It hasn't concerned me to that level.
19:44As for Health Canada's bottom line, they say the totality of the science does not support a link to harm.
19:51They add, even if a small child were exposed to cell phones 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
19:59there would be no adverse health effects.
20:02So, how do you explain that?
20:04Health Canada's track record is atrocious.
20:06How long did it take to figure out tobacco?
20:08So, the fact that Health Canada is behind isn't news.
20:11The fact that they're not doing anything about it, to me, is unforgivable.
20:15Clegg wants change, but for now, says information should be out in the open so people can decide for themselves.
20:21I think there's an opportunity for Canada to be among the leaders in the world, like Berkeley, California,
20:26to get the manufacturer's warnings out to say, look, be careful how you use the technology.
20:31There's a safe way to use it and there's a potentially harmful way.
20:34When I first started covering this, the manufacturers were saying there's no science showing any concern.
20:41Then it became there's no conclusive evidence.
20:44Now it seems the totality of science doesn't, the lingo's changing.
20:49Yeah, the lingo's changing, but they can't make it all go away.
20:52We should not insist on proof that we have made people sick before taking steps to protect others.
20:59While Health Canada says you shouldn't be concerned,
21:03they do provide tips in case you are.
21:12So do you feel like you're any closer to the answer?
21:13Well, it's been 20 years of asking two questions.
21:16One, are cell phones safe?
21:18I still don't know the answer to that.
21:20And two, are people being given enough information to decide for themselves?
21:24And on that, I think I've discovered, I think we've proven, that people, most people have no idea that message is in their phone, a message the government requires.
21:33So I think it's kind of obvious that they could be more upfront with that information.
21:39So I'm going to keep pushing for more information and I'll report back in 20 years.
21:44Join us for our season finale on April 7th.
21:52Team Asha versus Team Charlesi.
21:55Let's do this.
21:56Charlesi and I are going head to head, investigating the wedding industrial complex.
22:02The minute you say wedding, the money bells go off.
22:05Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling.
22:06Everything is marketed to brides as like, you need this or your wedding will suck.
22:11But are you paying extra just because of one word?
22:15You'd be looking at $452.
22:17You're looking at $800.
22:19Wow.
22:20It's a wedding war you won't want to miss.
22:23Facebook.
22:24Facebook.
22:25Thanks.
22:26Stay tuned.
22:27All the Dasparangals.
22:28Yep.
22:29Animation.
22:30Now you have a guest of all and over here.
22:32abb making the Unterschiedaud agreeable.
22:43Next slide.
22:47wishes please stop this.
22:48The zweite戦.
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