Hoax: Not to use cell phone in a gas station

Sharing the following email with you:

I WISH TO POINT OUT THAT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL circulated, CLEARLY IN GOOD FAITH, CONTAINS COMPLETELY UNSCIENTIFIC URBAN LEGENDS.

THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RESEARCH ARM OF THE SHELL COMPANY AS CLAIMED (Please verify at the Shell website).

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT CELL PHONES USE THAT PART OF THE LEECTRO-MAGENTIC SPECTRUM WHICH IS IN THE FAR MICRO-WAVE REGIME. THAT IS,VERY LOW FREQUENCIES COMPARED TO, SAY VISIBLE SUN LIGHT, AND THOUDANDS OF TIMES WEAKER THAN ULTA VIOLET-LIGHT.

EINSTEIN GOT THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR SHOWING THAT THE ENERGY IN RADIATION IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE FREQUENCY. IT IS TRIVIAL TO SHOW, BOTH EXPERIMENTALLY, AND USING SIMPLE CALCULATIONS, THAT THE ENERGY IN THE RADIATION USED BY CELL PHONES IS MILLIONS OF TIMES WEAKER THAN ORDINARY SUN LIGHT.

THE CLAIM THAT A RINGING CELL PHONE INTIATED A SPARK OR A FIRE IS TOTALLY FALSE.

GO TO AN OPEN SPACE, PLACE A TRAY OF GASOLINE (PETROL) IN A PLATE, AND SURROUND THE PLATE WITH FIVE OR EVEN 10 CELL PHONES. STAND A FEW YARDS AWAY AND CALL ALL THOSE CELL PHONES FROM, IF NECESSARY AT THE SAME TIME (USING FIVE OR 10 HELPERS), AND SEE IF YOU CAN CREATE AN IGNITION OF THE PERTOL FUMES COMING FROM THE PLATE.

AS ESTABLISHED LONG EGO BY ALBERT EINSTEIN (IN FACT, IN 1905, WHERE THE FULL THEORY WAS LAID OUT, AND IT TOOK MANY YEARS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO BELIEVE HIM), YOU WILL FIND THAT NO IGNITION OF THE PETROL WILL OCCUR BY CELL PHONE RADIATION OR CELL PHONE ACTIVATION.

PLEASE DON'T UNCRITICALLY BELIEVE URBAN LEGANDS THAT CIRCULATE AROUND THE INTERNET. USE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC SCIENCE TO ANALAYSE THESE - AN EXERCISE THAT WE DO WITH OUR GRADE 10- AND GRADE 12 SCIENCE SCHOOL KIDS., OFTEN COUPLED WITH EXPERIMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE URBAN LEGENDS ARE FALSE.

THE CIRCULATION OF FALSE INFORMATION IS INTRINSICALLY BAD. IT IS OUR DUTY TO POINT THIS OUT, WITH MALICE TO NONE.



"Shell Oil Comments - A MUST READ!

Safety Alert!
Here's some reasons why we don't allow cell phones in operating areas, propylene oxide handling and storage area, propane, gas and diesel refueling areas.

The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations

In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline pump.

In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car!

And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they were fueling their car.

You should know that: Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes

Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition

Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, boat, etc.

Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, (I.e., solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc...)

TO sum it up, here are the Four Rules for Safe Refueling:
1) Turn off engine
2) Don't smoke
3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off
4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling.

Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of 'static electricity' at gas pumps. His company has researched 150 cases of these fires.

His results were very surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas. When finished, they went back to pull the nozzle out and the fire started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was re-entered and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.

Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it with gas.
If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.

As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with several other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware of this danger.

I ask you to please send this in formation to ALL your family and friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children out in time. Thanks for passing this along."

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