|
 WASHINGTON -
Brain Cancer Cell Phone Danger
A study published in the June
2005 issue of the journal Neuroepidemilogy found an increased risk for acoustic neuroma-a type of benign
brain tumor-associated with analog mobile phones.
The research was conducted by Lennart Hardell of the Department of Oncology at
Obrebro University in Sweden, in collaboration with Michael Carlberg and Kjell
Hansson Mild.
The researchers said the tumor risk was highest for the 15-year-plus latency
period, but they cautioned that particular result is based on low numbers, and
therefore, must be interpreted with caution. The risk of acoustic neuroma for
digital cell-phone subscribers increased significantly only in the five- to
10-year latency period and the biological relevance of the finding is unclear,
according to the study.
Cell
phone danger The risk for another type of tumor-known as meningioma-in patients diagnosed
between 2000 and 2003 was significantly increased only in the temporal area of
the brain and only with increased latency for analog and digital phone use.
Hardell was the plaintiff's star expert witness in an $800 million cell
phone-brain cancer suit dismissed by a federal court in 2002. The judge ruled
scientific evidence linking cell phones to cancer was not strong enough to
warrant sending the case to trial.
The Hardell-led research group, for their part, said a pattern is beginning to
emerge.
"This is the third case control study showing a link between significantly
increased risk for acoustic neuroma and cellular telephone use," researchers
stated. "Regarding meningioma, a somewhat increased risk was found, although the
association was not as clear as for acoustic neuroma."
Government health officials in the United States and in other countries say
research to date does not show an association between cell phones and cancer,
but they have called for continued research to address conflicting findings in
the scientific literature.
Meantime, a handful of health-related suits against wireless firms and industry
trade groups are pending in federal and state courts.
|
