August 31, 2005

The largest ever study in finding out if cell phones can cause brain cancer has been concluded by The Institute of Cancer Research, and it finds there is no danger of using mobile phones in the short term.

The study looked at mobile phone use and the prevalence of acoustic neuroma, a nervous system tumour that occurs close to the point at which mobile phones are held to the head.

It concluded that there was no link for those using mobile phones for up to 10 years, but warned that there may be a risk in longer-term use.

"The risk of acoustic neuroma is of particular interest in this context because of the proximity of the acoustic nerve to the handset," said Professor Anthony Swerdlow, senior investigator at The Institute of Cancer Research.

"The results of our study suggest that there is no substantial risk in the first decade after starting use. Whether there are longer-term risks remains unknown, reflecting the fact that this is a relatively recent technology."

The study was conducted in the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, countries with the longest history of early adoption of phones, and covered 678 people with acoustic neuroma and 3,553 people who did not suffer from the condition.

Participants were asked in detail about their mobile phone use, and about other factors that might affect their risk.

"Mobile phones have only been used widely over the past decade so we won't know the long-term effects for many years," said Professor Peter Rigby, chief executive at The Institute Of Cancer Research.

"However, the results of this multi-country study with such a large number of participants is a great step forward in our understanding of the possible health effects of mobile phones."

Source: Vnunet