Cancer warnings on cell phones?

The ongoing debate about the dangers of frequent cell phone use has flared up again, this time with a legislator in Maine and the mayor of San Francisco both pushing for cancer warning labels on locally sold devices. But while some groups who have studied cell phones and brain cancer claim to have found a link, there is nothing resembling a scientific consensus on the matter. Should Maine and San Francisco warn—and possibly alarm—the public about a danger that might not exist? (Watch a report about proposals to put warning labels on cell phones)

Warn us all you want — we're used to it: "So what" if the government warns against cell phone use? asks Amanda St. Amand at St. Louis Today. We're already told that "too much coffee, too much sun, too little sleep, too much this and not enough that" can cause disease and illness. Adding a label to cell phones won't change our behavior — it'll be "just another warning" for Americans to ignore.

"Would cell-phone cancer warning affect you?"

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Not knowing the danger is cause enough for concern: If a cell phone signal is powerful enough to penetrate "houses, walls, and barriers of all sorts," asks Rob Jackson at Phandroid, shouldn't we be a little concerned about the impact of these same signals as they pass through our bodies? It's "fair and necessary to think about" the potential "long-term implications" of our heavy use of mobile phones.

"Maine Warning: Cell Phones Cause Cancer"

Government should butt out: Even the American Cancer Society, which generally "isn't afraid to cry 'carcinogen,'" says it's unlikely there's direct link between cell phone use and cancer, says Debra J. Saunders at the San Francisco Chronicle. Government needs to stay out of this debate — at least until a proven risk is established.

"Mayor can't keep his nose out of cell phone business"