DECT, or Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications, is a popular standard for cordless phone communication -- primarily in the home, but also in some small business settings. Some baby monitors use DECT, too. You may see DECT 6.0, which operates on a slightly different frequency, in the U.S. and Canada.

Because DECT-based cordless phone systems are digital, the sound quality is far superior to earlier cordless phones. Other benefits: They use a frequency that interferes less with other wireless devices in the home, and you can often add multiple DECT phones to the same base station (and even talk to other people in the home like a walkie-talkie). They also offer longer battery life, and they have a greater range than older cordless phones.

As many benefits as DECT brings, there are some health concerns over potential radiation exposure due to the fact that this is a microwave technology -- not unlike cell phones, Wi-Fi devices, baby monitors and some other wireless technologies.

While most studies are inconclusive about the long-term health effects of using these devices, a few recent reports raise questions. New research out of Israel and Sweden suggest prolonged use of cell phones could lead to an increased risk of tumors in the parotid gland -- a type of salivary gland that's near the cheek -- as well as an increased risk of brain cancer.

If you're concerned, you could limit your phone use, talk on a wired landline instead, or use the speakerphone function on the cordless phone to reduce the proximity to your head. Some phones also allow for a wired headset to be plugged into the side, which may also reduce any potential health risks.