Mouth Cancer

Research author Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, a cancer specialist at Tel Aviv University, looked at 500 Israelis who had developed the condition and compared their mobile phone usage with 1,300 healthy controls.

It was found that those who had used the mobile phones against the side of their heads for many hours a day were 50 per cent more likely to develop a tumor of the paratoid gland compared to infrequent users.

The parotid gland is the largest human salivary gland and is located near the jaw and ear, where mobile phones are typically held. The study also suggests that mobile users who live in rural areas may be at an increased risk of cancer because handsets need to emit more radiation to locate fewer antennas.

The research appeared in The American Journal of Epidemiology. Cancer of the salivary gland is a very rare condition. The greatest effects will however be found in heavy users and children over a period of time.

The authors also add that the risks of mobile use can be minimized by using the speaker, hands free devices and limiting the number of calls made and hours spent on the phone.