London: In a finding that may reopen the debate on mobile phone use and its adverse health effects, European scientists have claimed that overuse of the gadget does not increase the risk of cancer.
The researchers found that there was no significant increase in the incidence of cancer among adults who have been using them for up to a decade.
The study appears to contradict the expected results of a £20 million and decade-long investigation overseen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is expected to publish evidence soon that heavy users face a higher risk of developing brain tumours later in life.
In the latest study published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr Isabelle Deltour from Danish Cancer Society and his colleagues analysed annual incidence rates of tumours among adults aged 20 years from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Researchers identified 60,000 patients who were diagnosed with these types of brain tumours between 1974 and 2003.
The researchers found that incidence rates over this 30 year-period were stable, decreased, or continued a gradual increase that started before the introduction of cell phones.
They also found no change in incidence trends in brain tumors
from 1998 to 2003, The Telegraph reported.
It says, "the current balance of evidence does not show health problems caused by using mobile phones" and suggests only that children be "discouraged from making non-essential calls while adults should keep calls short".
- PTI
