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Report Revives Fears of Cell Phone-Tumor Link
Industry is downplaying cancer risks, charges group
By Rob Quinn
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Posted Sep 10, 09 4:17 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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A new report charges that health organizations and the cell phone industry are downplaying clear links between cell phone use and brain cancer, reports the Los Angeles Times. The latest research shows that cell phone use significantly increases the risk of some kind of tumors, and that young people are most at risk because their brains are still developing, notes the report, issued by a collection of groups concerned about the effects of electromagnetic radiation.
A sweeping 13-nation study into the health effects of cell phone use has been delayed for years, and critics charge that the industry is trying to hush up findings associating a higher cancer risk with using a cell phone for over 10 years. The report's lead author recommends users switch to earplugs to keep the phones away from their heads, and believes the phones should come with health warnings. "Not everyone who uses a cell phone will get brain cancer. But everyone who does is at higher risk," he said.