For Mobile phones being dangerous
Information found on: http://www.surgicalneurology-online.com/article/S0090-3019(09)00145-1/abstract
Background
The debate regarding the health effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation from sources such as power lines, base stations, and cell phones has recently been reignited. In the present review, the authors attempt to address the following question: is there epidemiologic evidence for an association between long-term cell phone usage and the risk of developing a brain tumour? Included with this meta-analysis of the long-term epidemiologic data are a brief overview of cell phone technology and discussion of laboratory data, biological mechanisms, and brain tumour incidence.
Methods
In order to be included in the present meta-analysis, studies were required to have met all of the following criteria: (i) publication in a peer-reviewed journal; (ii) inclusion of participants using cell phones for ≥10 years (i.e., minimum 10-year “latency”); and (iii) incorporation of a “laterality” analysis of long-term users (i.e., analysis of the side of the brain tumour relative to the side of the head preferred for cell phone usage). This is a meta-analysis incorporating all 11 long-term epidemiologic studies in this field.
Results
The results indicate that using a cell phone for ≥10 years approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumour on the same (“ipsilateral”) side of the head as that preferred for cell phone use. The data achieve statistical significance for glioma and acoustic neuroma but not for meningioma.
Conclusion
The authors conclude that there is adequate epidemiologic evidence to suggest a link between prolonged cell phone usage and the development of an ipsilateral brain tumour.
Information found on: http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/418714/Just-a-few-minutes-a-day-on-a-mobile-phone-raises-cancer-risk
Mobile phones can cause cancer and using one for just 17 minutes a day dramatically increases the risk, according to new research.
Heavy users have higher oxidative stress in their bodies. This is the harmful process that damages all aspects of a human cell including DNA and is a major risk factor for cancer. Mobiles are currently classed as “potentially carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Scientists have long been concerned about the possible harmful effects of regular mobile phone use. But no studies have produced clear results.
Now, a new analysis of the saliva of mobile users reveals chatting for as little as eight hours a month causes higher oxidative stress. The researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel hypothesised that saliva content could reveal whether there was a connection to developing cancer because a mobile phone is placed close to the saliva gland when in use. They examined saliva content of 20 heavy phone users, who spoke on their phones for at least eight hours a month – although most used them for 30 to 40 hours a month. The participants’ saliva content was compared to deaf patients who either do not use a mobile phone at all or use them for non-verbal activity like sending texts. Results showed that the heavy mobile phone users had significantly greater saliva oxidative stress.
Lead author Dr Yaniv Hamzany said: “This suggests that there is considerable oxidative stress on the tissue and glands which are close to the cell phone when in use.
“The damage caused by oxidative stress is linked to cellular and genetic mutations which cause the development of tumours.”
The researchers say the results reflect long-standing concerns about the impact of mobile phone use. Although the study, published in the journal Antioxidants and Redox Signalling, does not uncover a conclusive “cause and effect” relationship between mobile phones and cancer, it adds to growing