Brain Cancer and Cell Phones
The strong possibility of cell phone cancer.
Links between brain cancer and cell phones? Definitely. Some brain cancer causes are linked to exposure to radiation which could lead to cell phone cancer of the brain.
Some research suggests that the radiofrequency (RF) produced by cell phones is much too low to cause any damage. This is incorrect from a scientific standpoint.
Heat shock proteins in cells (which are partly responsible for the onset of cancer) require very little RFs to force them into action.
This is at the biological level of our cells. It doesn't take much to start the onslaught of cancer.
Where is the research between brain cancer and cell phones mostly coming from? Cell phone industries. - The studies done by Motorola and other cell phone giants show that there is no evidence at all of increased risk of brain cancer.
- Independent studies have shown that there is a definite and serious health risk with cell phone use.
As well, there is an interesting report published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in May 2010 about cell phone cancer. It showed there is an increased risk of glioma in heavy cell phone users, but the findings were reported as being inconclusive.
This study, known as the Interphone Study, received a large amount of funding from the wireless industry, and included mobile licensing fees. Other studies have also suggested links between brain cancer and cell phones, but have also been downplayed.
Here's what ScienceNews reported about cell phone cancer and the Interphone Study on their May 17th, 2010 web edition:
Explains Interphone researcher Siegal Sadetzki, a public health physician at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine, “If you look at the overall evidence, this study did not confirm or dismiss the possible association between cell phones and brain tumors. That’s the bottom line.” Science requires data to meet “very strong criteria before you can say there is an association,” she explains. And the Interphone data that were reported online May 17 in the International Journal of Epidemiology, did not meet those criteria, she says.
“On the other hand,” she adds, “we do we see a few indications of risk. And these indications appear among people who were exposed for the longest duration. We do see an association with ipsilateral use [tumors on the same side of the head that a user holds a cell phone to the ear]. We also see an association with temporal lobe [brain] exposure. So there are some indications of a positive association in these subgroups.”
"As a result," she says, “We do have some suspicions."
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Remember that radiation wasn't thought to be harmful in any form when it was first being studied by Marie Curie. She died from aplastic anemia, caused by exposure to radiation.
Consider why doctors, radiologists, dentists, and other health practitioners advise patients to wear protective shields during x-rays and they leave the area. Why don't they stay in the room when radiation treatments for cancer are being given?
Exposure to radiation in any form causes damage. This includes cell phones.
Exposure Level Link Between
Brain Cancer and Cell Phones
There is debate about how the amount of distance between a cell phone and the user can vary the impact of possible brain cancer and cell phones issues. The amount of RF energy exposure is certainly lessened by keeping the phone itself away from the body.
There are other factors to consider: - How long a person actually uses the cell phone
- Using the cell phone during peak hours (increased activity in the air waves)
- Proximity to cellular base stations
- Frequency of using a hands-free device (BlueTooth)
Using handsets with the cell phone has shown an increase in three particular kinds of tumors: glioma (brain tumor), acoustic neuroma (benign tumor of the nerve connecting the ear and brain) and cancer of the salivary gland near the ear (parotid).
Most of these tumors will occur on the side of the head or neck where cell phones are most often used.
Even well-known medical correspondents like Sanjay Gupta (CNN Chief Medical Correspondent) and Vini Khurana (Australian National University nerosurgery researcher) refuse to hold cell phones to their heads.
Radiation from objects like cell phones are particularly insidious for children. The Interphone study mentioned above left this factor out of their study. That is interesting as children are much more sensitive to the effects of radiofrequency exposure. Their skulls are quite thin, their brains are still developing, and the incidence of brain cancer in children is rising at an alarming rate.
Cell phones for kids is even being addressed in schools.
Schools are taking down their WiFi connections and limiting cell phone usage because of the exposure to radiation.
Many countries around the world are now even passing measures to prevent children under 16 from using cell phones due to links between brain cancer and cell phones.
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