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Even though the cell phone industry and the FDA say there is no link, ongoing research in the US and Europe is showing disturbing signs that there is a connection between cell phone use, tumors in the brain and other abnormal brain activity.

The occurrence of certain rare brain tumors has risen from 1 in 100,000 in 1980 to 1 in 80,000 today. Even though the tumors can be surgically removed, the fact that they are appearing more frequently has scientists thinking there is a connection to cell phone use which also has grown dramatically. Studies have shown that some people using cell phones for an hour or more per day develop brain tumors on the side of the head where the cell phones are placed while in use. Scientists believe that anyone using their cell phone for the same or greater time period has a 1/3 higher risk of developing these tumors.

These results and other reports from cell phone users of headaches, memory loss and sleep problems related to their phone use have led to recommendations that children under the age of sixteen be banned from using cell phones. Due to the thinner skull bones and delicate brain tissue of children, the radiation penetrates further into the brain. In addition children will be exposed to much more radiation over their lifetime than adults.

The question should be: Have cell phones been proven safe without a doubt? I don't believe so. I also don't believe that the long-term effects of cell phone use have really shown themselves, but it looks like they are beginning to surface. There is a $12 million federal research project going on right now that will hopefully answer many more questions, but it will not be completed for another five years. In the meantime scientists and researchers are recommending limited cell phone use until all the answers are in. Scientists and researchers have yet to determine if headsets help or not. Some say they do, others disagree. The important thing is to keep your phone away from your head and your body, if possible.

Many studies have been done and many more will probably be conducted until we have the answers, but so far the results are showing some significant correlation between cell phones and disturbances in the brain. Until the results are in it makes sense to cut back on your cell phone use.

References

Osterreichische Arztezeitung November 25, 2007

International Journal of Oncology February 2003; 22(2):299-407

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