Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?

It's a question that's been on my mind for quite a while now. Because if using a cell phone does cause brain tumors, then that has huge implications on how I communicate. (I don't use a cell phone every day, but I do use it frequently.)

Furthermore, I've heard conflicted stories: yes, cell phones do cause tumors; no, the don't; etc.

Here's the news: cell phones do not cause tumors or brain cancer. At least that's what Newsbug.net reports today.

Apparently, Denmark conducted a two-year long study with 475 test subjects who had brain tumors and 822 who did not. The study concluded that there was no association between cell phone use and an increased risk of brain tumors.

That's great news for cell phone junkies. But the co-author of the study, Dr. Christoffer Johansen, cautions that cell phones might cause other yet untested health issues.

For instance, a friend of mine got appendicitis last year. He believes it's because he wore his cell phone toward the front side of his right hip all the time. Coincidence or cause? Hmmm...

I think moderation is the best course of action until more studies can be conducted. Use a cell phone when you need to, but don't overdo it.

Comments

[Ken Dix]

After having had appendicitis myself, I discovered a study that showed most cases of appendicitis occur in the fall. Why this is, nobody knows. But I doubt that your friend's cell phone was a factor. However, you raise a good point about moderation in their use. We just don't know enough yet about the long term effects of this type of new technology. In fact, I'm still leery of using a microwave.

[Scott Gelb]

The good news: I did a quick google search and found general agreement with the assertion that there is no evidence of cell phones causing cancer.

The bad news: Not long ago I heard on the nightly news that there was evidence that cell phones may cause impotence. Another Google search returned some links reporting that mobile phones can cut a man's fertility by a third. Yikes!

[Jennifer]

Ken according cancerhealth.org, “Microwave ovens don’t make foods radioactive. They just heat them. If you use a microwave oven in the correct way there is no known harmful effect on humans. Understanding the different types of radiation may help to reassure you that cooking in a microwave is not dangerous and won’t cause cancer.”