More Research on Cell Phones and Cancer

Researchers at the Australian National University undertook a review of all the research done so far on the epidemiological evidence for "an association between long-term cell phone usage and the risk of developing a brain tumor."

There conclusion: Yes, there is evidence of a connection.

In order to be included in their review they only examined previous studies that met the following criteria:

1. Publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

2. Subjects studied had used cell phones for more than 10 years.

3. Brain tumors which corresponded to the side of the head where the cell phone was normally used.

Eleven prior studies met those criteria. The result of their review of prior studies based on the above three criteria: "The results indicate that using a cell phone for 10 or more years approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumor on the same (ipsilateral) side of the head as that preferred for cell phone use." (Surgical Neurology 2009 Sep; 72(3): 205-14)

On the flip side, the research accompanying the release of these findings says that there have been no conclusive studies showing that cell phones DON'T cause brain tumors or other problems.

Most of the people writing about this issue are using tobacco-related diseases as a paradigm for warnings. It took decades for the health effects of tobacco to show up -- remember that a half-century ago many/most doctors smoked, many participated in cigarette ads, and many doctors recommended smoking to their patients. (I remember as a child a physician friend of my parents, Dr. Leo Harris in Decatur, Alabama, being in our home on social occasions and smoking. He was a kind man but was like most doctors of that era, simply didn't know the deleterious effects of tobacco -- nor did most people. My own parents both smoked until I was around 6-7 years old when my mother somehow knew they needed to quit. She did but my father was never able to break the habit, smoking under cover for most of his adult life. His addiction probably accounts for my own Draconian views on the subject.)

Many researchers today fear that the effects of cell phones, and other devices that produce similar "radiation," may have results that don't show up for many years -- especially among the many children who are now using cell phones since their skull bones are much thinner than adult skulls.

As I said in previous posts on this topic, I'm taking a "where there's smoke there's fire approach," and trying to err on the side of caution. And trying to remember Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:23: "You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is beneficial" (NLT-SE). (See Dr. Mercola's site for his comments on the new study mentioned above.)