Heavy Use of Mobile Phones

Heavy users of wireless mobile phones face increased risks of developing severe brain tumors, according to the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the possible link between cancer and the long-term use of cellular telephones.  Researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life and the University of Oerebro compared the mobile phone use of 4,400 people—half of them cancer patients, and the other half healthy people who made up the control group—and made some disturbing discoveries.  Heavy Mobile Phone Use Increases Cancer Risk According to Kjell Hansson Mild, who led the study, heavy users of mobile phones have a 240 percent increased risk of developing a malignant tumor on the side of the head where they press the phone to their ear.  Published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, the study defines "heavy use" as 2,000 hours of mobile phone use in the course of a decade, which "corresponds to 10 years' use in the work place for one hour per day."  Of the 2,200 cancer patients in the study, who ranged in age from 20 to 80 years old, 905 had a malignant brain tumor and just under one-tenth of that number were heavy mobile phone users.  "Of these 905 cases, 85 were so-called high users of mobile phones, that is they began early to use mobile and/or wireless telephones and used them a lot," said the authors of the study in a statement issued by the Institute.  In addition, the study concluded that early users, defined as people who started using a mobile phone before age 20, are also at greater risk of developing a malignant brain tumor.  The study also took into account factors such as smoking habits, working history and exposure to other known cancer-causing agents.  Limit Mobile Calls and Use Handsfree Options Hansson Mild advised that the best ways for consumers to lower their risk of cancer related to mobile phones are to use their wireless phones less frequently and to use handsfree options when they do make or receive mobile calls. He said the research report about the study is not intended to cause public alarm or to raise concerns about widespread risk for the majority of people who use mobile phones.  "It does however give reason to use caution when calling on wireless phones," he said in an interview with Dow Jones. "Use handsfree and avoid wireless when possible."  Swedish Study Breaks New Ground The Swedish study is the first to show a significant link between long-term mobile phone use and cancer. Previous studies found no evidence that radiation from mobile phones is harmful, but those earlier studies looked at mobile phone use among fewer people over a shorter time.  The Swedish study is the largest and most comprehensive to date. Also, people in Sweden have been using mobile phones since 1984, longer than people in many other countries, so getting a large sample of people who have been using cellular telephones for a long time was relatively easy.

Health Concerns

Concerns have been raised about the normal mobile phone, which has the antenna in the handset. In this case, the antenna is very close to the user's head during normal use of the telephone and there is concern about the level of microwave emissions to which the brain is being exposed.

Telephones that have the antenna mounted elsewhere are of little concern, since exposure levels decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the antenna.

Reports have appeared in the media linking the use of mobile telephones with, among other things, headaches, hot spots in the brain and brain cancer.

Media reports have claimed that up to 70 percent of the microwave emissions from hand-held mobile telephones may be absorbed in the user's head. This is not supported by the evidence, but nevertheless leads to speculation that hot spots may be created in the user's brain, thereby raising concerns that the telephones may be a health risk. Other reports have indicated that mobile telephone users suffer localized headaches when they use their telephone. At this stage, it is difficult to evaluate the evidence supporting these reports, since they have not been published.

The brain cancer reports originated in the USA where a number of lawsuits have been lodged against mobile telephone manufacturers and suppliers. These claims for damages allege that the microwave emissions from mobile telephones used by the claimants caused their (in some cases, fatal) brain cancers. Those few cases that have been tried have been dismissed for lack of supporting evidence.

Concern about a possible increased risk of brain cancer in mobile phone users has continued. In response, a major project, INTERPHONE, has been organised. The INTERPHONE project is a multi-national series of epidemiological studies testing whether using mobile phones increases the risk of various cancers in the head and neck. The project comprises national studies from 13 different countries, which are coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Partial results from some of the studies have been published showing no overall association between mobile phone use and head and neck cancer. However some of the studies reported a small association with acoustic neuroma and glioma for prolonged (more than ten years) mobile phone use. A full report of the INTERPHONE project will be made available by IARC once all of the studies are completed.

Precautions to prevent health risks

1. Never keep the cell phone in the left side of pocket as cell waves affect the heart.

2. If you wish to speak in mobile for longer time, change the position cell phone for every one minute from left to right vice versa.

3. If you talk continuously for 45 seconds, the endothelial layer in the year may get damaged.

4. In blue tooth and cell phone, the bad effects of radiation are same. So, use ear phones to decrease the bad effects of radiation.

Though there are controversies regarding the effects of mobile radiation on health, it is better to decrease the mobile usage. Use the cell phone judiciously.