Is it dangerous to use cell phones while pumping gas?
Q. Some gas stations have signs that say to turn off cell phones, others do not.
A. John Stossel says it best. The piece is buried in an article with excerpts from his latest book, so I'll post the whole piece on cell phones and leave the link below.
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MYTH: Using your cell phone at the gas pump could cause an explosion. TRUTH: Don't tap dance either.
The media is alarmed:
cell fone fireball (New York Daily News)
buying gas? don't touch that phone! (Toronto Star)
The facts are more reassuring. Cell phones are a source of static electricity, and anything that supplies a spark-however minuscule-can ignite a fire if the spark is near fuel vapors. If you are pumping gas yourself, with a cell phone in your hand that rings at the wrong time, theoretically you might be in danger. But there is no evidence that cell phones are causing fires.
Still, the media keeps pumping out the stories. In 2004, the Poughkeepsie [N.Y.] Journal ran this headline:
cell phone ring starts fire at gas station
The story quoted the local fire chief, Pat Koch, as saying gas vapors were ignited by the ringing of a cell phone. But-hold the presses and get the shovel!-just days later, Koch changed his tune: "After further investigation . . . I have concluded that the source of ignition was from some source other than the cell phone . . . most likely static discharge from the motorist himself." To its credit, the Poughkeepsie Journal gave its follow-up story as much play as the original. The media rarely do that.
The University of Oklahoma actually has a "Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility," which researches the effects of electronic devices on our lives. The center examined incident reports and scientific data, and concluded that there was "virtually no evidence to suggest that cell phones pose a hazard at gas stations." The researchers went even further: "The historical evidence," it said, "does not support the need for further research."
Any static electricity, any spark-producing activity, is dangerous near vapors. So rubbing your rear end against a cloth car seat on a dry winter day is more risky than using your cell phone near the fumes. Don't dance near the pumps with metal taps on your shoes either!
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MYTH: Using your cell phone at the gas pump could cause an explosion. TRUTH: Don't tap dance either.
The media is alarmed:
cell fone fireball (New York Daily News)
buying gas? don't touch that phone! (Toronto Star)
The facts are more reassuring. Cell phones are a source of static electricity, and anything that supplies a spark-however minuscule-can ignite a fire if the spark is near fuel vapors. If you are pumping gas yourself, with a cell phone in your hand that rings at the wrong time, theoretically you might be in danger. But there is no evidence that cell phones are causing fires.
Still, the media keeps pumping out the stories. In 2004, the Poughkeepsie [N.Y.] Journal ran this headline:
cell phone ring starts fire at gas station
The story quoted the local fire chief, Pat Koch, as saying gas vapors were ignited by the ringing of a cell phone. But-hold the presses and get the shovel!-just days later, Koch changed his tune: "After further investigation . . . I have concluded that the source of ignition was from some source other than the cell phone . . . most likely static discharge from the motorist himself." To its credit, the Poughkeepsie Journal gave its follow-up story as much play as the original. The media rarely do that.
The University of Oklahoma actually has a "Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility," which researches the effects of electronic devices on our lives. The center examined incident reports and scientific data, and concluded that there was "virtually no evidence to suggest that cell phones pose a hazard at gas stations." The researchers went even further: "The historical evidence," it said, "does not support the need for further research."
Any static electricity, any spark-producing activity, is dangerous near vapors. So rubbing your rear end against a cloth car seat on a dry winter day is more risky than using your cell phone near the fumes. Don't dance near the pumps with metal taps on your shoes either!
What percentage of the world or the United States owns a cell phone?
Q. Who does not own a cell phone?
A. Working in the telecommunications industry, I believe the percentage is around 54% of the US population has a cell phone. Don't quote me on this, but I feel that number is pretty accurate.
What should I say to my brother Dave who works in real estate management & allows cell phone companies to?
Q. install cell phone antennas on the roof of the apartment buildings that he manages to bring in a little extra Money.
Until the law will stop him from doing it.
Even though he knows there's a very good chance the tenants in the building will get cancer from the radiation of the cell phone antennas.
Dave says he only thinks of the money he gets. He says he couldn't give a sh_t if his tenants get cancer from the cell phone antennas.
Until the law will stop him from doing it.
Even though he knows there's a very good chance the tenants in the building will get cancer from the radiation of the cell phone antennas.
Dave says he only thinks of the money he gets. He says he couldn't give a sh_t if his tenants get cancer from the cell phone antennas.
A. You could tell Dave that "the love of money is the root of all evil", that karma is a bummer (since I'd get a Yahoo violation notice if I used another "b" word!) and it will eventually bite him on the buttocks, that "what goes around comes around" (variation on the karma quote, I guess!).
Is it against the law to install cell phone antennas on apartment building roofs? (You could place an anonymous call to the appropriate authorities as well as stuffing the tenants' mailboxes with notices about what your brother is doing.)
Be prepared for your brother to stop speaking to you however.
Is it against the law to install cell phone antennas on apartment building roofs? (You could place an anonymous call to the appropriate authorities as well as stuffing the tenants' mailboxes with notices about what your brother is doing.)
Be prepared for your brother to stop speaking to you however.
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