You may not be able to live without your cell phone or laptop, but evidence is mounting that the fun, useful gadgets of modern life, such as cell phones and computers, may be affecting your health — raising the risk of headache, infertility, and even brain cancer.
1. Laptops
Holding your laptop too close to the skin for long periods of time can result in “toasted skin syndrome,” a permanent, mottled-look that is caused by long-term heat exposure. In rare cases, the laptops can lead to the type of damage that causes skin cancers, according to Swiss researchers. Be safe, they suggest, by placing the computer in a carrying case or using a heat shield if you hold it in your lap.
Another report found elevated scrotum temperatures in men who rested laptops on their laps. Prolonged heat can lead to reduced sperm production and affect fertility.
