MESSAGE
| DATE | 2008-02-15 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] CellPhones and Cancer
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Cell Phone Use Linked To Increased Cancer Risk
A recent study says frequent cell phone users face a 50% greater risk
of developing tumors of the parotid gland than those who don't use
cell phones.
By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek February 15, 2008 09:30 AM
Frequent cell phone users face a 50% greater risk of developing tumors
of the parotid gland than those who don't use cell phones, according to
a recently published study.
The parotid gland is the largest human salivary gland; it's located near
the jaw and ear, where cell phones are typically held.
The reported annual incidence of salivary gland tumors is one to three
per 100,000 people, according a 2006 article by Mark Kidd in Ear, Nose
and Throat Journal. Based on that data, a 50% increase would raise one's
theoretical high-end risk of developing a tumor in the head from 0.003%
per year to 0.0045% per year.
To put the possible danger into perspective, consider that the annual
incidence of death by car crash in the United States is about 14 per
100,000 people, according to Department of Transportation statistics.
The study, led by Tel Aviv University epidemiologist Dr. Siegal Sadetzki,
appeared last December in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Sadetzki's findings are sure to add to confusion surrounding the already
contentious debate about the health effects of cell phone radiation. Many
other studies in recent years have found no increased risk of cancer
due to mobile phone use, but a few have stopped short of ruling the
possibility out and a few have said increased risk of cancer is small
but real.
The U.K. Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme last
year "found no association between short term mobile phone use and
brain cancer," and noted that "the situation for longer term exposure
is less clear."
Professor Kjell Mild of Sweden's Orebro University, however, also
published a study last year and found that using a cell phone over a
period of more than 10 years raises the risk of brain cancer and that
children are particularly susceptible to this risk because of their
developing skulls.
In 2006, the American Journal of Epidemiology published a Swedish salivary
gland study, "Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Parotid Gland Tumor," and
the authors found no increased risk of tumors caused by cell phone use.
One area where the two parotid gland studies differ is in the number
of participants. The 2006 Swedish study included 172 people with benign
and malignant tumors, and 681 health control subjects. Sadetzki's study
included nearly 500 people with benign or malignant tumors and about
1,300 healthy control subjects.
Sadetzki says that the Israelis were early cell phone adopters and
heavy users of the technology, a tendency that suggests higher radio
frequency exposure than other populations. Her study found an increased
risk of cancer for frequent cell phone users in rural areas, which may be
attributable to the increased radiation output required when phones try
to communicate in areas with fewer antennas. She believes that frequent
mobile phone users and children face the largest increased risk of
health effects.
"While I think this technology is here to stay, I believe precautions
should be taken in order to diminish the exposure and lower the risk for
health hazards," Sadetzki said in a statement. She recommends the use of
hands-free devices at all times, holding the phone away from one's body,
and making shorter, less frequent calls. She also advises that parents
limit the amount of time children can talk on mobile phones.
And if you really want to protect your health, buckle up and drive
with care.
-- http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff http://www.nylxs.com -
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