Don’t have pockets? Ah, I’ll just put it in my bra. Want quick and easy access? Pop it in my bra. Trying to avoid pickpockets? I guess I can put it in my bra.
It’s safe to say there are more than a few of us are guilty of using our bras as a go-to stowaway for all sorts of things, but the decision to put your phone in your bra is absolutely the wrong one.
Research says that women should not be letting their phone touch their breasts, or be anywhere else on their skin, as many studies have pointed to an “increased risk of brain tumours from extended mobile phone use”.
While the information on whether smartphone exposure has links to breast cancer is lacking, “people should play it safe and ensure they do not store their smartphones directly against their bodies.”
A quarter of women surveyed had carried their smartphone tucked into their bra, and that while they had concerns about whether smartphone use was linked to sleep issues, cancer and headaches or dizziness, this didn’t translate to how closely they kept the phone to their chest.
It’s also interesting to note that a number of smartphone manufacturers, such as Apple, warn against storing your smartphone touching your skin. (In Apple’s user guide, it recommends using hands-free options to reduce exposure to radio frequency energy. It also informs users to keep their phone half a centimetre away from their body for their exposure to remain at the levels tested to meet limits.