Questions about the dangers of cell phone use have made their way through the media. Since the causes of brain cancer are not known, it would make sense that an electronic device that emits signals might have an impact on your brain.
Brain cancer can be scary to deal with: as a daughter of a brain cancer patient, I have seen the difficult treatments that my mother has gone through. However, a study conducted by London's Institute of Cancer Research showed that there is no risk of developing brain cancer from cell phone usage.
The study investigated 966 brain cancer patients, and showed that there was no risk of gliomas, a serious type of brain cancer, when using a cell phone over time. All aspects of cell phone use were examined: the amount of time since the first occasion that the cell phone was used, the number of years that the person used a cell phone, the cumulative number of calls and the hours of use.
As part of the study, the type of cell phone used was also analyzed. Earlier cell phones emitted analog signals. Analog cell phones have a higher power output compared to current digital phones. However, despite the increased emission from analog cell phones, users still did not have an increased risk of developing brain cancer.
So the good news is that you can use your cell phone without having to worry about cancer. However, while this study debunks the link between brain cancer and cell phones, you still should be careful. Radiation can still be emitted from a cell phone, which is hypothesized to cause health risks.
The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Environmental Oncology recommends utilizing the speakerphone option or a headset when using your cell phone. In addition, avoid putting your cell phone in your pocket or on a belt clip. Most likely, more research will be done on the radiation emission from cell phones, and whether this results in any health problems.
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Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch received her bachelor’s of science degree in neuroscience from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in May 2009. She is the Hartford Women's Health Examiner.