Cell Phones and Cancer

We all know that cell phones emit radiofrequency energy which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. There are ongoing studies being done to determine if there is a link between it and tumors of the brain and central nervous system. The National Cancer Institute has developed their fact sheet and states there is no definitive link between the two. Cell Phone Use and Cancer: Q & A - National Cancer Institute

This hasn’t stopped Ronald B. Herberman, MD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, from recently making the news when he warned faculty and staff there of a possible link between cancer risk and cell phone use.

His memo went out to about 3,000 faculty and staff advising them that children should use cell phones for emergencies only. He cited concern about the possible effects on their developing brains. He went on to say that adults should keep the phone away from their heads and use a speakerphone or a wireless headset to reduce the effects of electromagnetic radiation.

He based his warning on unpublished data from a massive ongoing research project called Interphone.

There are other studies such as a 2008 University of Utah analysis that provide an alternate viewpoint.

The largest published study of cell phone use and cancer from 2006 tracked 420,000 Danish cell phone users and found no increased risk of cancer among those using cell phones.

As with all the studies, the jury is still out and we will continue to get conflicting reports.