Researchers at the
Swedish
National Institute for Working Life have studied 2,200 mobile phone users
and found an increased risk of brain tumours in mobile handset users.
The study found a 240 per cent increased risk of a malignant tumour on the
side of the head where the phone is used, and the earlier the patient starts
using a mobile phone the higher the chances of a serious illness.
The
study
(PDF) looked at digital and cellular phones as well as cordless landline
handsets.
"This pooled analysis showed consistently increased risk for malignant brain
tumours using >10 years latency period," said report authors Lennart Hardell,
Michael Carlberg and Kjell Hansson Mild.
"Especially high odds ratio was found for high-grade astrocytoma. Odds ratio
increased with cumulative lifetime number of hours of use of analogue and
digital cellular telephones and cordless phones. In multivariate analyses
increased risk was found for all three phone types."
The findings contradict several earlier reports on the relative safety of
mobile phones. A UK university study earlier this year
cleared mobile phones for use, but did find a preponderance of tumours on the
side of the head most used for calls.
Another study, finished last year, concluded that
there was no danger but pointed out that long term use may have more serious
side effects.
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