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Thu, 23 October 11:00 2008 |
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Mobile phones may be killing bees and causing human health problems |
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BEE colonies are disappearing in worrying numbers throughout the world and beekeepers in America, the UK, Scotland, Germany Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Greece are all seeing their hives vanish. When a hive’s inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature worker bees, it is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Usually there is an obvious reason for this, such as illness or attacks from predators. However, there doesn’t seem to be a straightforward answer for the current problem. Many of the beekeepers have also reported that other bees, animals and moths stayed away from the abandoned nests, which is not normal and may indicate a serious problem. Bees are one of the most essential insects on the human food chain. They are the main pollinators of hundreds of crops, nuts, flowers, vegetables and fruits. Albert Einstein once said that, if the bees disappeared, “man would have only four years of life left”.
One of the most popular theories which have been offered to explain this disappearance is that electromagnetic radiation given off by mobile phones and other gadgets interferes with the bees’ navigation system, preventing them from finding their way back to the hive. German research has long shown that bees change their natural patterns of behaviour near power lines. So if mobile phones are causing bees to disappear, what are they doing to our health? While proof is not absolutely conclusive, there is mounting evidence that cell phones are dangerous to people. An official Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset. Swedish research has shown that radiation from cell phones can kill off brain cells and may be one of the many reasons that dementia is on the rise. What will be the fate of all the young people today who are the first generation to have their own cell phones and use them regularly? Studies in India and the US have shown that men who use cell phones very regularly have reduced sperm counts. Even if we choose to not have a mobile phone ourselves, the masts are all around us, causing stress. It has been suggested that eating a diet that is seriously high in antioxidants, which povide natural protection against cellular damage from all environmental toxins, will also counteract the damaging effects of mobile phones. Raw cacao, pomegranates, blueberries, and broccoli sprouts are some of the most antioxidant-rich foods.
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"throughout the world and beekeepers in America, the UK, Scotland, "
Isn't Scotland part of the UK?
Anyway mobile phones are more trouble than they are worth. I don't have one and if they are killing bees I probably never will.
Malcolm