On Tuesday evening, Lehighton's Deaf Welcome Foundation Equal Access Sign Language Television prerecorded an episode featuring the launch of a product designed to reduce electromagnetic radiation from cell phones and other electronic devices.

The program featuring host Theressa DuBois and xZubi Technology cofounders John Wennerholm and Dustin McBride served as the North American launch of the xZubi, which Wennerholm described as, "a small 'microchip' that can be adhered to any cell phone, etc., that reduces and eliminates the radiation from interacting with your body."The xZubi comes in a package of five patches. To use, a sticker is peeled from its sheet and placed on a flat area of a cell phone, cordless phone, microwave oven, television or any electronic device that may be used near the head. A self-adhesive glues it to the device-that's it!Although so described by Wennerholm, the xZubi is not a "microchip". It neither contains a microchip nor any powered device. It uses no power. Instead, according to Wennerholm, "It uses paramagnetics that produces its own field that eliminates the higher and lower frequencies without affecting your phone's ability to connect with the cell tower."Two and a half years ago, Wennerholm and his friend and marketing buddy of 15 years, Dustin McBride, saw a need for device to neutralize electromagnetic radiation from cell phones. "We knew there were problems," he said. "We thought with our marketing expertise and connections in the scientific community, we could put the two together."Understanding of the effect of cell phone electromagnetic radiation on humans of various configurations, especially children with developing brains is incomplete.The World Health Organization is studying health outcomes from electromagnetic fields exposure and plans to release a report by 2012. WHO is concerned that cell phones are now used by 4.6 billion people, and that, "Electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans."WHO is concerned that typically, people place mobile phones directly to their ear, exposing themselves to the full level of radiation produced by their electronics. They note that most people are already familiar with the interference that these devices cause for airplane navigation and pacemakers.WHO concluded, "While an increased risk of brain tumors is not established, the increasing use of mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile phone use over time periods longer than 15 years warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk."Wennerholm explained, "We thought there was a need for the product. In my life, my wife has had cancer for 11 years. The electromagnetic radiation reports suggested hazards-and we wanted to find a solution. I don't know if the cancer that my wife has was related to EMF radiation or not, but I know what it is like to be in the shoes of a caretaker."Wennerholm and McBride met DuBois a year and half ago and remained in contact. "When we finished the product, we wanted to give her the first opportunity."In discussions with DuBois, Wennerholm and McBride had learned that, "The deaf community is often more technologically advanced that the rest of us," Wennerholm. "They rely on products like videophones, and have been using them for years."Wennerholm and McBride offered to launch the xZubi on the Deaf Welcome TV show. DuBois arranged to offer the patches as a fundraising gift to contributors to the charity.For more information about the xZubi, see: xzubi.com or deafwelcome.org.Cell phones and other electronic products are required to meet federal standards for electromagnetic frequency radiation. Currently, it is not confirmed that EMF can lead to cancer or other health issues. It has been determined that cell phones and similar devices give off EMF. EMF reduces with distance from the head-a hands-free device may reduce the level of EMF radiation. There are recommendations that children and pregnant women, in particular, should minimize their exposure to EMF radiation.As the product is new and independent laboratory research performed on the xZubi was not available at the time of publication, the performance of the xZubi has not been evaluated for the reduction of EMF radiation.