A European study suggests people using cell phones for 10 or more years have a higher risk of developing brain tumors than do non-cell phone users.
The five-nation study involving more than 4,500 people found a statistically significant increase in the incidence of tumors on the side of the head where the users hold their cell phones, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
"Although our results overall do not indicate an increased risk of glioma in relation to mobile phone use, the possible risk in the most heavily exposed part of the brain with long-term use needs to be explored further before firm conclusions can be drawn," the researchers said.
The study covering the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland is to be published next month in the International Journal of Cancer.
The research is part of a larger 13-nation research program coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, the newspaper reported. Results from all 13 countries are expected to be analyzed and made public later this year. The United States is not included in the research.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Related stories:
Scientists close in on method to fight deadly childhood cancer
A multicenter team of researchers, including scientists from the University of Florida, has discovered a way to potentially block the growth of neuroblastoma, a type of cancer responsible for 15 percent of all cancer deaths in children.
Mouse study shows fetal heart can grow cells to repair disease damage
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent study in mice shows the ability of the fetal heart to grow healthy cells to compensate for cardiac tissue lost to disease. The mice are normal at birth and their hearts function well during their youth. However, these gains can be short-lived. About 40 percent had signs of heart disease in early adulthood, and 10 percent died of heart failure.
Mouse studies suggest daily dose of ginkgo may prevent brain cell damage after a stroke
Working with genetically engineered mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that daily doses of a standardized extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree can prevent or reduce brain damage after an induced stroke.
H. Pylori bacteria may help prevent some esophageal cancers
Some bacteria may help protect against the development of a type of esophageal cancer, known as adenocarcinoma, according to a new review of the medical literature. These bacteria, which are called
Helicobacter pylori, live in the stomachs of humans.
Engineered stem cells carry promising ALS therapy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using adult stem cells from bone marrow as "Trojan horses"to deliver a nurturing growth factor to atrophied muscles, Wisconsin scientists have successfully slowed the progression of ALS in rats.
As head and neck cancer risks evolve, more treatment options emerge
Advances in understanding head and neck cancer over the last decade have led to more treatment options and improved quality of life for patients, according to a review published this week in the
New England Journal of Medicine.
Genetic region linked to a 5 times higher lung cancer risk
A narrow region on chromosome 15 contains genetic variations strongly associated with familial lung cancer, says a study conducted by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Landmark study reports breakdown in biotech patent system
The world's intellectual property system is broken. It's stopping lifesaving technologies from reaching the people who need them most in developed and developing countries, according to the authors of a report released in Ottawa today by an international coalition of experts.