If you have been using a mobile phone for over ten years there is a remote possibility that you could be a candidate for brain cancer, according to a hypothesis set out by certain experts.
Now, in a planned five year study over 200,000 long-term user volunteers will be observed to discover whether their use of mobile phones does indeed promote such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Professor Lawrie Challis, an international expert on mobile phone radiation, and leader of the study is conferring with the mobile phone industry and the Department of Health with regard to this. He hopes to be able to convince then to fund the £3 million it will take.
Speaking to the Times, Challis observed that although it is safe to use mobile phones for a short term there is a possibility of lurking dangers for people who use them for up to ten years or more.
As chairman of the mobile telecommunications health research programme that is funded by the government he stressed that at this stage it was still just a “hint”.
A study in Sweden in 2003 seems to have found just such a connection. Some long-term users contracted acoustic neuromal brain tumours. A sinister connotation was that they occurred in proximity to the ear against which the mobile phone was regularly held.
Although Challis feels that because the number of incidents is so minute it could still be put down to chance and the small number could also be because cell phones are relatively new with few people having used them for a long time. He is also of the opinion that the mobile phone could turn out to be the cigarette of the 21st century.
The professor believes the study is essential because all important studies in the causes of cancer have revealed that the disease took over ten years to develop. He cites the examples of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and asbestos, when cancer started showing up years later.
His beliefs are not affected by other studies that reveal the absence of danger and feels it is essential to carry on when there is even the slightest suggestion and because trusted professional epidemiologists believe there is some substance in the supposition.
One field of the study will concentrate on observing how the use of mobile phones affects children. Challis does not agree with scientists who say there is no difference in the way mobile phones affect children and adults.
He has found support in the government. Andrew Lansley, Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, supports the efforts made by Challis. He told the Times, “At the moment there is little evidence to suggest that the use of mobile phones has any impact on health, but it is vital that there is continuing research to establish if long-term use is a danger.”
Hoping to allay unnecessary fears and panic attacks, Challis, however, states that even if such a connection was found it would only mean that people may have to restrict their use of mobile phones.
