By Lily McInerney
A new tech craze has been introduced by Apple. These wireless Bluetooth headphones are called Airpods. The new technology is
being largely endorsed for athletes for when they are exercising and don’t want to be physically connected to their phones. This untangles them for any problems during performance. This smart technology allows people not only to listen to their music , but to also make calls, get directions, and adjust the volume without taking their phone out.
Airpods have also made their way into Irvington High School and are popping up on the streets.
Lately, there has been some controversy about the possible cancerous effects of Airpods. Some experts warn that the radiation the Airpods emit could possibly cause cancer.
Junior Callie Crespo, who owns a set of Airpods, said,” I have heard rumors about this, and it scares me every time I listen to music. I feel like Apple should inform us more about this.”
Another IHS junior Amelie Chusko said, “I had no idea about this being a possibility, I wish I had known that Airpods weren’t as safe as I thought before I bought them. I really like to use them but if they are going to get me sick then I don’t want to use them.”
Apple did release a statement on the controversy: “[Many devices] have been tested and meet applicable limits for radio frequency (RF) exposure.”
Although Apple and some experts have gone on record stating that their devices meet RF exposure requirements, others warn that the limit for RF exposure is too lenient.
The American Cancer Society is one of the many organizations that believes that RF exposure is detrimental to human health. The American Cancer Society states, “If RF radiation is absorbed in large enough amounts by materials containing water, such as food, fluids, and body tissues, it can produce heat. This can lead to burns and tissue damage. Although RF radiation does not cause cancer by damaging DNA in cells the way ionizing radiation does, there has been concern that some forms of non-ionizing radiation might have biological effects that could result in cancer in some circumstances.”
The Cancer Society also revealed that people are exposed to this kind of radiation every day, but it can be regulated by avoiding the use of Bluetooth devices which Airpods are and instead sticking with corded earbuds.
