Mobile users are more likely to develop a brain tumour

A new study has warned that a 'brain tumour pandemic' could be on the way as the risks of developing brain cancer from regularly using mobile phones is much higher than originally thought.

If you are one of the 4 billion people who regularly have their mobile glued to their ear then you need to know that a new study has revealed that mobile phone users are up to five times as likely to develop a brain tumour that those who do not use them. Interphone, a study set up by the World Health Organisation which was carried out over 13 countries, concluded that making calls for more than half an hour a day could increase users' risk of developing brain cancer by as much as 40%.

What we have discovered indicates there is going to be one hell of a brain tumour pandemic unless people are warned and encouraged to change current cell phone use behaviours,' says Lloyd Morgan, a member of America's Environmental Health Trust lobby group.

"People should hear the message clearly that cell phones should be kept away from one's head and body at all times," he said.

One of the studies revealed a 24% increased risk of ‘glioma' - the most common form of brain tumour - from regular use on the same side of the head as the handset was held. However Morgan argues that this figure is closer to 55%, and that after 10 years or more, the risk doubled for those who use their mobiles just once a week or more.

However despite the alarming statistics, many believe that the problem is not as bad as the figures first indicate, with several experts claiming that the results are not conclusive and could have been affected by selection bias or statistical error.

‘The warnings of a ‘brain tumour pandemic' are overblown,' says Ed Yong, head of health information for Cancer Research UK.

'The majority of studies in people have found no link between mobile phones and cancer, national brain cancer rates have not increased in proportion to skyrocketing phone use and there are still no good consistent explanations for how mobile phones could cause cancer.

'Even after the minor adjustments reported in this new analysis, the results from the overall Interphone study are still either not statistically significant, or right on the borderline.

'This means that any link between mobile phones and cancer that the conference presentation quotes could well be down to chance or anomalies in the data they collected,' he said.

However experts do suggest that you keep mobile phone use to a minimum and if possible hold the set away from your person when using it.

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