- Cell phones have been linked to human cancer in a
scientific
study for the first time. The research suggests there is a threefold
increase
in eye cancers among people who regularly use the devices.
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- The results will cause concern within the mobile telecoms
industry. The radiation emitted from mobile phones has long been known
temporarily to alter the workings of brain cells but there was previously
no evidence of permanent damage to health.
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- If confirmed by subsequent research, the finding could
lead tothousands of costly lawsuits by people with eye and possibly brain
cancers.
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- More than 20 million people in Britain have mobile
phones.
The research, published in the journal Epidemiology, was carried out by
a team from the University of Essen, in Germany. It investigated a form
of eye cancer called uveal melanoma, in which tumours form in the layer
that makes up the iris and base of the retina.
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- Dr Andreas Stang, who led the research, said he had
examined
118 people with uveal melanoma and obtained details about their use of
digital mobile phones. This was compared with a control group of 475 people
without the disease.
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- To prevent bias, the researchers were not told if the
person they were examining suffered from cancer or was healthy. When the
results were analysed they found the cancer victims had a much higher rate
of mobile phone use, though Stang cautions that his study needs
confirmation.
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- The mechanism by which the radiation might cause cancer
is uncertain but it is known that the watery contents of the eye assists
the absorption of radiation.
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- Other research showed that cells called melanocytes found
in the uveal layer started growing and dividing more rapidly when exposed
to microwave radiation.
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- Since uveal melanoma starts within such cells, there
is a ready-made mechanism by which mobile phone radiation might help to
initiate cancer, especially in people with a genetic predisposition to
the condition.
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- Last year the Stewart inquiry into mobile phone safety,
appointed by the government, found no evidence to link the devices with
brain tumours or any other disorder.
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- However, last month saw the launch of multi-billion-pound
lawsuits against Verizon Horizon, an American mobile phone company 45%
owned by Vodaphone, the biggest British provider.
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- Customers claim they got brain tumours and other
conditions
from using the devices.
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- Vodaphone said it welcomed new research but there was
still no positive evidence that mobile phones harmed health.
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