Report Revives Fears of Cell Phone-Tumor Link

Industry is downplaying cancer risks, charges group

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2009 4:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – 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.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A cell phone user passes a Verizon store in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)

A pedestrian talks on his Motorola Razr cell phone while walking in downtown Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Cellphones are causing brain tumors. Industry-backed studies try to hide that fact. But if you read them carefully, you can see there are risks. - Lloyd Morgan, the study's lead author

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

zackmasson

Sep 10, 2009 11:48 PM CDT

This is a REAL problem and WAS solved by some smart people. There is a chip that sends out an a signal that cancels out the harmful signals from damaging your cells and its dirt cheap. BUT implementing this tech would be admitting that their is a problem and open the flood gates for old and new law suits. They prefer to keep the status que at the cost of peoples lives.

Guest

Sep 10, 2009 6:58 AM CDT

There's great documentaries about cell phones and brain cancer on youtube and video.google definitely check them out

Guest

Sep 10, 2009 6:42 AM CDT

Electromagnetic radiation does affect living organisms. Plants grow differently near electrical transformers (blackberries are biggest near the transformers; I've seen them), and the tiny radio-transmitter implants get wrapped in tumorous masses. The mechanism has not been identified, so saying there is no known mechanism to cause the cancer is disingenuous. The only prudent thing to do is to keep your phone away from your head and genitals as much as possible REGARDLESS of what the cell phone industry says. Headphones are a great idea. Texting is good too -- ditto for short calls. You'll save money, be more polite to those around you, and conceivably save your brain as well.

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cancer • cell phones • tumor • carcinogens • radiation • cell phone industry • brain cancer • brain tumor

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Report Revives Fears of Cell Phone-Tumor Link