Cell phone users at higher risk of tumors

Monday July 14, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Using cellular phones may increase risk of tumors of the parotid gland, according to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The study showed that those who used cellular phones more frequently were at a 50 percent higher risk of developing tumors of the parotid gland compared to those who used them less frequently.

For the study, researchers at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel examined data on 402 cases of benign and 58 cases of malignant tumors of the parotid gland.

Israel is a country where cell phones are very commonly used.

They found that using cell phones for more than 22 hours per month was associated with a 50 percent higher risk of parotid gland tumors.

The increased risk was found among those who always held the phone to the same ear, who did not use handheld devices, or who lived in rural areas.

Tumors more often developed on the side cell phones were used.

Studies of the impact of cell phones on the tumor risk are inconsistent. Often long term studies tended to result in positive effects while short term studies generated negative effects.

Using cell phones has been found to be associated with increased risk of glioma, a brain tumor, and acoustic neuroma.

By Sue Mueller, and edited by Heather Kelley.
Jul 14, 2008 - 12:37:04 PM