Scientists Study Cell Phones As Cause of Brain Tumors

The world's most comprehensive study of the health effect of cell phone use, two years overdue, has yet to be published. But some of the studies that contribute to the report are raising old concerns about the long-term safety of using wireless technology, according to the Toronto Star.

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer expects to complete work on its 13-nation, 50-scientist collaboration soon. The intent is to define what, if any, risk of cancer comes from prolonged use of cell phones.

It "involves the pooled analysis of thousands of cases of tumours in the head and neck area: gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and parotid gland tumors," the Star reports. Until now, authoritative research had supported the overall safety of cell phones, but some say the newly widespread use of cell phone technology, and the prolonged use over years, could represent risks that weren't adequately tested in earlier studies.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[darthdarcy]

The thing is also that the young are more inclined to use cellphones and will be using them from an early age on for their lifetime so their exposure will have been partly when their still developing and thus most prone or susceptible to developing into cancers or tumors..over that lifetime...I have little doubt that cellphones are bad for you and that they are to be avoided..

[Jennysaypa]

This story will not end for another 20 years.

What has been learned from previous studies, and which is generally undisputed, is that phones heat the brain. That they have any impact at all is bad news, but the debate thus far has been whether heating is a good, bad, or neutral thing.

Another interesting impact to examine is bone cancer. When the phone is stuck in your back pocket and is unused it is still emitting a signal. In fact, if you go into a place with low or no signal, your risk may go up because the signal power increases to try to find the network.

All that said, these phones are part of modern life and are a requirement of most jobs now. Choosing to not use them is a luxury.

[dgscol]

I am a scientist, and all I know is : 1) Many people who have used cell phones have developed tumors in the vicinity of the phone's antenna. There are more of these than people might think because suits are not filed because the claim is made that there is no relation of tumors to these phones, and hence no proof of a connection. Damage to the head like this is very damaging, requiring surgery, possibly loss of balance and hearing, etc. and 2) There is a bias against EM fields causing health problems because of prior claims against power companies, of detrimental health effects.

In some cases people have developed tumors just in a period of one years use of the phone. Until statistical studies are performed and people "know" the truth, and it is not influenced by a desire to market the phones, I would not use a cell phone, except in an emergency.

[RTIII]

I use the speaker-phone feature most all the time...