Cell phones safe? No answers yet

Maybe the teenagers are on to something. Many teens, as far as we can tell, don't talk much on their cell phones, but use them mainly as devices for sending text messages.

Now comes research from the National Institutes of Health and Long Island's own Brookhaven National Laboratory showing increased glucose activity in the brain after a 50-minute phone call when the device is held against the ear.

While there is no solid evidence that using a cell phone is harmful, worries persist about the long-term health effects of this relatively new technology. Invisible forces (in this case, radio waves) are always scary. Remember the fretting inspired by microwave ovens?

The latest finding is nothing more than an increase in brain glucose metabolism averaging 7 percent. What this means is anybody's guess; it might even be beneficial. Whatever the implications, it's a safe bet most people aren't planning to toss their mobile phones. Many, it sometimes seems, would rather part with an arm.

But if there is no proof that cell phones are dangerous (when you're not driving), there is no proof they're safe either. If you worry about such things, using an earpiece eliminates the increased glucose effect.

Or, like teenagers, you could just send a text instead. Just beware of repetitive stress syndrome if you get carried away — lol.