- (Reuters) -- The use of mobile phones
over a long period of time can raise the risk for brain tumors, a new Swedish
study said on Friday, contradicting the conclusions of other researchers.
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- The Dutch Health Council, in an overview
of research from around the world, last year found no evidence radiation
from mobile phones and TV towers was harmful. A four-year British survey
released in January showed no link between regular, long-term use of cell
phones and the most common type of tumor.
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- However, researchers at the Swedish National
Institute for Working Life said they looked at the mobile phone use of
905 people between the age of 20 and 80 who had been diagnosed with a malignant
brain tumor and found a link.
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- "A total 85 of these 905 cases were
so-called high users of mobile phones, that is they began early to use
mobile and, or wireless telephones and used them a lot," the study
said.
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- "The study also shows that the rise
in risk is noticeable for tumors on the side of the head where the phone
was said to be used," it added.
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- Kjell Mild, who led the study, said the
figures meant that heavy users of mobile phones, for instance of who make
mobile phone calls for 2,000 hours or more in their life, had a 240 percent
increased risk for a malignant tumor on the side of the head the phone
is used.
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- "The way to get the risk down is
to use handsfree," he told Reuters.
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- He said his study was the biggest yet
to look at long-term users of the wireless phone, which has been around
in Sweden in a portable form since 1984, longer than in many other countries.
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