Mobile Phone Use 'Linked To Tumour'

The telegraph (UK) ^ | 1-25-2007 | NicFleming

[blam]

Mobile phone use 'linked to tumour'

By Nic Fleming
Last Updated: 2:08am GMT 25/01/2007

Long-term users of mobile phones are significantly more likely to develop a certain type of brain tumour on the side of the head where they hold their handsets, according to new research.

The results seem to suggest health risks in people who have regularly used mobiles for over 10 years

A large-scale study found that those who had regularly used mobiles for longer than 10 years were almost 40 per cent more likely to develop nervous system tumours called gliomas near to where they hold their phones.

The new research, to be published later this year in the International Journal of Cancer, is the second study to suggest increased risks of specific types of brain tumours in regions close to where mobile phone emissions enter the head.

However, a number of other studies has found no increased health risks associated with mobile phone use.

Prof Lawrie Challis, the chairman of the government-funded Mobile Telecommunications Health Research (MTHR) programme, said last week that most research had shown that mobiles were safe in the short term but that there was a "hint of something" for longer-term users.

Prof Challis, who is negotiating funding for a long-term international study, said last night: "I agree with the authors that this is a hint that needs further exploration. It's further reason why a long-term study is necessary."

Louis Slesin, the editor of Microwave News, a US newsletter on radiation and health that reported the new study, said: "We now have two tumour types found among people who use mobiles for more than 10 years shown by two different research groups. That is compelling evidence."

Researchers from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland compared the mobile phone use of 1,521 people with gliomas with that of 3,301 people without the cancers.

Before separating out long-term users or looking at the different risks of developing tumours on the side where users held the phone, the scientists found no link between mobile use and gliomas.

However when they looked only at people who had used a mobile for 10 years or more, they found that they were 39 per cent more likely than average to get a glioma on the side of their head where they held their handset.

Prof Anssi Auvinen, an epidemiologist involved in the study, said: "It seems credible as it was after long-term exposure — which makes sense in terms of the length of time it takes for tumours to develop — and it is localised to the side of the head where the handset is held."

A spokesman for the Mobile Operators Association said: "The overall results of this study do not show increased brain tumour risk in relation to mobile phone use.

"The findings related to tumour location are difficult to interpret."

[razorback-bert]

This is one for "Mythbusters" since they did cell phones and gasoline already.

[RunningWolf]

No thanks on that one blam baby ;)

The gene deck of cards I was dealt has its 'issues' from my man-mortal pov, but I'll go with the hand I was dealt on that one

Lets figure out how 'we can all get along' to quote RK first because if we don't, it will keep coming up in our face.

Agree?

Wolf

[HiTech RedNeck]

The screen in the door is not the place where microwaves are prone to leak out. It's the joint between the door and the body of the oven. I'd expect to see scalp and neck burns before any eye damage.

[Pontiac]

Prof Challis, who is negotiating funding for a long-term international study, said last night: "I agree with the authors that this is a hint that needs further exploration. It's further reason why a long-term study is necessary."

Could it be that he agrees with this study because he wants to get paid to confirm this study.

Follow the money as always.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

No wonder the young female drivers in Dallas are so loony...they all have tumors and the phone is still stuck in their ear!!

[metesky]

However when they looked only at people who had used a mobile for 10 years or more, they found that they were 39 per cent more likely than average to get a glioma on the side of their head where they held their handset.

Never once in an article of this type have I seen the baseline given. What is the average chance? .0001%? 30%? So one can't know from this whether ones chances go to .000139% or 41.7%.

Scare mongering at its best.

[silentreignofheroes]

Been out of the business for a while,,Still doesn't sound healthy.

[Lx]

I thought there was more than one case where the officer manning the radar gun put it between his legs when he wasn't aiming it and ended up with testicular cancer.

Is that what you're talking about?

Pretty screwed up situation if you ax me.

[KoRn]

I recall when I first started using a cell phone, I had a strange headache on the side of my head where I held the phone. After a few days it went away. I suppose I should have kept my tin foil hat on while I was using it.

[Revolting cat!]

Is that what you're talking about?

Yep, the radar guns in the crotch! Yuck!