He's Fit

Click here for the Lead Stories

Can Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer?

Posted June 9, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Fitness, Injuries & Rehab, His Health, Physical Health

Are cell phones really safe? Since cell phones have become such an important part of public communication, there has been a debate on whether or not cell phones increase the risk of brain cancers. Many surgeons say that they do not hold their cell phones to their ears. However, the associated cancers are rare, so even if cellphone use does increase risk, the risk is still very low.

“I think the safe practice,” said Dr. Keith Black, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, “is to use an ear piece so you keep the microwave antenna away from your brain.”

While some experts believe that the antenna on cell phones cause brain cancer, several studies find little evidence that there is a correlation between cell phones and cancer. According to Tara Parker-Pope of the New York Times Well Blog, since 2000, there have been three epidemiology studies on cell phones that show no risk of cancer.

However, the FDA also admits that the average period of time that cell phones were used is three years, which is not enough time to measure the long-term risk of cell phone use. As time goes on and people have been using cell phones for a long time, we will have a better understanding of long-term risk of cancer with cell phones.

Three types of tumors have been associated with wireless phones: glioma tumors, salivary gland tumors, and acoustic neuroma. All three types of tumors are very rare, however, heavy use of cell phones increase this risk. According to the New York Times, “Last year, The American Journal of Epidemiology published data from Israel finding a 58 percent higher risk of parotid gland tumors among heavy cell phone users.

Also last year, a Swedish analysis of 16 studies in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine showed a doubling of risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma after 10 years of heavy cell phone use.” Although this study takes into account the prolonged use of cell phones, it is still to early to determine how high the risk that a heavy cell-phone user will develop a tumor.

The biggest risk may lie with children who use cell phones, rather than adults. First, cell phone use has only been common for most people within the last 10 years or so. Those who are adults still use landlines often and have not had cell phone exposure as a child. Children, however, are using cell phones more often and their brains are still developing. Young people who are still not fully grown face a lifetime of increasing cell phone use and will ultimately face more exposure in the long run than those who didn’t start using cell phones until well into adulthood.

What can you do to avoid as much risk as possible? If you use a cell phone, wear a headset, if possible, to avoid holding the antenna near your head. Avoid using things like a Blue Tooth, which puts a transmitter directly into the ear. Another way to avoid risk is to limit your cell phone use as much as possible. If a land line is available, such as when you are at home, use that phone instead of the cell phone.

Try using the cell phone only when you are out of the house, or in case of emergency. Even though experts are still not sure how high of a risk for cancer the average cell phone user lies, it is better to take precaution now just in case it is certain 10 years from now that cell phones are dangerous.

Research sources and for more information: [NY Times]

7 comments, add yours | Permalink | Share this article

Tags: american journal of epidemiology, brain cancer, cell phones, glioma, keith black, neuroma, occupational and environmental medicine, risk, tara parker-hope, tumors, well blog

Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!

7 Responses to “Can Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer?” (Leave a reply)