Is your cell phone killing you? Evidence increasingly points to yes. Studies show a higher incidence of tumors and brain cancer among heavy cell phone users, and authorities worldwide (though less so in the States) are beginning to recommend reducing mobile phone use and changing the way in which you do use yours. And while pointing a microwave gun at the side of your head is probably never a good idea—a corded headset or speakerphone is better—a new phone case called Pong helps cut radiation exposure about 60 percent.

Pong ($60 for Blackberry and iPhone; pongresearch.com) works by channeling radiation (all cell phones emit it) up and away from your head using a kind of antenna extension—it pulls the radiation and redirects it the way a chimney funnels smoke. Does it work? Yep. Wired recently had to eat crow over a strongly negative review of the device. It called the Pong “snake oil” and accused the company of pseudo-scientific marketing babble. But then it actually tested the Pong on an iPhone in a laboratory and found the results consistent with FCC testing and Ping’s claims. It does work.

Mine is a three iPhone-household and all the phones have Pongs. We’re also taking addition steps: Cutting down on phone use, using speaker phone or corded headset (there can be issues here, too), and relying more on corded landlines.

The hassles are minimal, the risks substantial. Although the National Cancer Institute says studies are inconclusive, Australian brain surgeon Dr. Vini Gautam Khuran recently analyzed more then 100 studies and found “there is a growing body of statistically significant evidence for a relationship between the overall length of use of a mobile phone and the delayed occurrence of a brain tumor on the same side of the head as the “preferred side” for mobile phone usage.

His conclusion: You’re two to four times more at risk via heavy cell phone use.

My conclusion: Why take chances?

For more on cell phone dangers:

• Cell phone health risks (from Pong, but with sources cited). LINK.
• Feature story on phone hazards in Gentleman’s Quarterly. LINK.
• Pong review, GQ. LINK.
• Pong review, Geek.com. LINK.
• Pong review, Gizmag.com. LINK.