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IntroductionTo perform this study, it was necessary to understand how the mobile phone works.Wireless communication is existed for a long time since the ancient period people usefire, smoke, flag and etc. to communicate with each other from long distance(Schiller,2003).Nowadays, with rapid development, mobile phones play a significant role in our dailylives, as it is indispensable, convenient and fast. Mobile phones function inradiofrequencies that range between 450, 800/900 and 1,800/1,900 MHz(Steele &Hanzo, 1999). The Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) is the first analognetwork produced, then during the 1990s, two digital networks CDMA and GSM arearrived(Anon., 2007). These second-generation (2G) networks has the ability tospread voice calls across several wireless spectrum and bring highly interactiveexperience to the mobile phone users. The 3G networks can be used by a number of users at the same time, and the frequency channels have 5-MHz bandwidths(Pederson, 1999). These cordless phones are used at very short ranges between a basestation located at the telephone socket outlet within the house and the cordless phonehandset(Adair, et al., 1999). Because the high mobility of mobile phone, it is verypopular in modern world. And with more entertainment and useful functions as GPSand music are integrated, it becomes essential part in our lives.As discussed above, including mobile phone, development and use of wirelesscommunication are increased rapidly in past a few decades. Widespread concernshave been raised about the possibility that mobile phones could affect people’s health.In this literature review, the emphases will be on the potential health dangers of theuse of mobile phone based on the previous studies.Brain TumoursThe mobile phone owners are under the increasing health risks of the extensive use of mobile phone as they are severely exposed to the electromagnetic wave radiationwhich is emitted by mobile phone(Kshetrimayum, 2008). The potential health riskcomes from absorbing the a comparatively large amount of electromagnetic energy,especially the human head, when mobile phone is used(Hardell, et al., 2007). Becausethe radiation of mobile phone is concentrated on a small area in human brain fromhot-spot(Kshetrimayum, 2008).In previous studies, both initial and recent years’, most evidences on the relationshipbetween brain tumor and mobile phone are insufficient based on the low numbers of the research. In the study of Inskip, et al.(2001, pp. 79-86), 782 hospital cases areenrolled with 489 malignant brain tumours, 197 with meningioma and 96 withacoustic neuroma. And there are only 11 glioma patients, 6 meningioma patients and 5
 
acoustic neuroma patients have at least 5 years’ regular use of mobile phone. Regularuse of mobile phones gave OR(standardised incidence ratio)=0.8 (0.6 to 1.2) forglioma, OR=0.8 (0.4 to 1.3) for meningioma and OR=1.0 (0.5 to 1.9) for acousticneuroma. Duration of use more than 5 years did not increase the risk for glioma andmeningioma, but for acoustic neuroma, OR increased to 1.9 (0.6 to 5.9). Based ondifferent types of glioma, anaplastic astrocytoma has OR=1.8 (0.7 to 5.1).In a case-control study of acoustic neuroma reported by Lonn, et al.(2004, pp. 653-9)from Karolinska Institute in Sweden, they were in collaboration with hospitals toindentify cases and check cases with the cancer registry. Published data werecollected from 148 cases and 604 controls. Use of digital phones more than 5 yearssince the first use gave OR=1.2 (0.7 to 2.1). Use of analogue phones of a duration 5 to9 years gave OR=1.3 (0.6 to 2.9), and for more than 10 years OR=1.8 (0.8 to 4.3).From those typical researches, there is a potential relationship between use of mobilephone and brain tumour. Long-term use of the mobile phone may increase theincidence ratio of the risk on brain tumour. But there are not strongly evidences tosupport this result and the potential relation so further more high quality studies areneeded.Though the clue is not clear for the effect on the brain tumour, it also should beavoided as possible to reduce such risk from long-term use of mobile phone. Themobile phone users must learn some safety practices to avoid risk as possible such askeeping phone conversations short and use a plug-in earpiece to lessen the health riskimposed by these phones(
 
Kshetrimayum, 2008; Repacholi, et al., 2001).Bacteria on the phoneAs mentioned above, including the healthcare workers(HCWs), more and morepeople own mobile phones nowadays. Lots of innovations in mobile communicationslead to significant improvements in quality of medical communication, healthcareefficiency and better patient control in many areas as diabetes and asthma (Ramesh, etal., 2008; Soto, et al., 2006). The better work experience and connectivity brought bythe mobile communication devices(MCDs) are really accepted by the HCWs toreduce miscommunication and medical error (Brady, et al., 2009). In the recentlystudy of Brady, et al.(2009, pp.295-300), approximately 78% HCWs expressedsupport by doctors’ use of mobile phones within hospital. The proportion for nursesand patients were 56% and 49% respectively.However, along with the benefits and popularity, some problems that are potential toincrease the risk of patients are raised. These issues include environmental noise,patient confidentiality and bacterial contamination of MCDs(Brady, et al., 2009).Except the bacterial contamination of the MCDs, other issues are emphasized and
 
have resulted in comprehensive policy to avoid such risks(Bhattacharya, 2005).
Table
 
I
 
Number
 
of 
 
cellphone
 
in
 
which
 
a
 
specific
 
type
 
of 
 
bacteria
 
was
 
isolated(Brady,
 
et
 
al.,
 
2006,
 
p124)
 
Bacterial
 
type
 
Number
 
of 
 
mobile
 
phones
 
in
 
which
 
a
 
specific
 
type
 
of 
 
bacteria
 
was
 
isolated
 
(total
 
105)
 
Coagulase
‐
negative
 
staphyloccocus
 
98
 
Micrococcus
 
spp.
 
41
 
Bacillus
 
spp.
 
21
 
Diptheroids
 
7
 
Methicillin
‐
sensitive
 
Staphyloccus
 
aureus
 
6
 
Streptococcus
 
viridians
 
6
 
Coliforms
 
5
 
Methicillin
‐
resistant
 
Staphyloccus
 
aureus
 
2
 
Enterococci
 
faecalis
 
1
 
Clostridium
 
perfringens
 
1
 In the study of Brady, et al.(2006, pp.123-125), in 105 HCWs who owns mobilephone and are available to participate the mobile phone bacteria sampling, 84.5% of them took their mobile phones to hospital every day and 40.1% used mobile phone atleast once per day during work. As figured in Table I, the evidence of bacteriacontamination is found on approximately 97% of phones, and the bacteria that cancause nosocomial infection are grown on 14.3% sampled phones. Besides, 38.1%phones are contaminated by one species, 38% are contaminated by two differentspecies and 20.95% are contaminated by three or even more different bacteria species.This study shows the very high rate of mobile phones are contaminated by bacteriawhich may increase the risk of patient’s health, especially in operating theatreenvironment.To avoid these issues as possible, previous studies have discussed and recommendedmany ways as staff education, strict hand hygiene and restrictions of mobile phoneuse. Staff education can be improved by group study or posting posters and leaflet tothe area where they congregate to remind them(Naikoba & Hayward, 2001). Theimportance of strict hand hygiene is strongly emphasized and recommended by themost authors(Goldblatt, et al., 2007; Karabay, et al., 2007; Namias, et al., 2000).Some reports call for complete ban on mobile phone in general clinic environment butit is not feasible as such MCDs are widely used in general clinical care. The mostpossibility is restrictedly control the use of mobile phones and completely ban themobile phones in some special areas(Jeske, et al., 2007).Auditory system effectIn the study of Aal-Abduljawad(2008, pp. 72-74), volunteers are divided into 3 groups.Group one used mobile phones frequently and spoken approximately 3-4 hours per
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