Mobile Cancer Research

Research

Several research studies carried out in Europe and America have looked at large numbers of people using mobile phones. Most have found no link between brain tumours and mobile phones. A large UK study reported in January 2006 that they could find no link between mobile phone use and glioma. The study included information on over 2,500 people. They found no link between the amount of mobile phone use, length of time since first use, lifetime years of use or number of calls made. The study did not include any information on children using mobile phones. Over 2,500 people took part in this study. Only about 6 or 7 out of every 100 of them had used a mobile for more than 10 years.

A large Danish study has followed over 400,000 people - some of them for 21 years. In December 2006, these researchers published a paper that looked particularly at those who had been using a mobile phone for more than 10 years. They found no increased risk of brain tumour. A 2007 study found that high use of mobile phones may very slightly increase the risk of developing tumours of the salivary glands, but this needs to be confirmed by other research.

One thing to remember is that most of the research carried out has looked at older 'analogue' phones. Most of the phones available in the UK now (especially the newer phones) are digital. These give out less radio wave radiation than analogue phones, and so any potential risk is reduced.

There is very limited research about using a mobile phone with a hands-free set. Some research says holding the phone to your ear will expose you to less radiation than using a headset. Other research says the opposite. But, which ever is true, there is no proof that this low level radiation increases the risk of a brain tumour. There is more research underway in the UK to look into this further.