Why We Need to Take Another Look at Cell Phones and Brain Cancer

Worldwide attention about the link between cell phone use and brain tumors has been recaptured after an Italian man was awarded $7,500 a year for the rest of his life as the result of a benign brain tumor that cost him hearing in one of his ears.

Billions of people around the world use cell phones every day. A whopping 46% of these people are estimated to be children, whose brains and nervous systems are still developing. With such a largely used device in our hands, you’d think we’d stop to consider the health effects of these tiny machines.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has said that radiofrequency fields, which cell phones put out, are possibly carcinogenic to humans. What this means is that a causal association is considered credible but hasn’t been established.

What exactly are we doing with this information? With troubling, tentative research available but not yet proven, billions of people continue to use cell phones without a care.

When native Italian Roberto Romeo was recognized to have a brain tumor caused by cell phone use in an Italian court, this was a pivotal moment in which people are officially recognizing the dangerous effects of cell phone usage.

Here’s why we need to take another look at cell phone use and brain tumors.

The Research Has Largely Been Inconclusive

Although the IARC has noted a possible link between cell phones and brain tumors, other agencies, according to the American Cancer Society, have failed to raise the alarm or to see any conclusive evidence.  There are a number of studies that have been done that show “no link” between cell phone use and cancer.

However, some research does point to a correlation that needs to be further explored. For example, Swedish researchers found that cell phone used is linked to malignant (cancerous) and benign (non-cancerous) tumors that show up after approximately 10 years of use. The study also notes that children are at greater risk due to their developing nervous systems and brains.

Out of the many studies that have been done, some have found correlations while others haven’t. Although research exists that shows women who have increased their risk for benign brain tumors by 2.5 times after using a cell phone for 10 years, other studies say there’s no link.

The research has clearly been inconclusive and we need to take another look at what the data are showing.

Billions Are at Risk for Health Problems

With the findings of these studies in tow, billions of people who use cell phones every day are at risk.

Although some research says tumors are unlikely to appear before years of cell phone use, others have found that there is no time limit. Any cell phone usage, particularly heavy usage over a long period of time, could increase your risk.

These risks aren’t discriminatory, but heavy cell phone users are more at risk. Roberto Romeo used a cell phone for his work for 3 hours every day for 15 years. This is considered extremely heavy usage, as 1 hour per day is considered to be too much.

Benign brain tumors, of course, don’t sound as bad as their cancerous counterparts (malignant tumors) but consider the cost of having an unregulated mass of growth in the brain.

Tumors are a problem regardless of their cancer status because depending on where they are in the brain, they can impact any number of functions. These include behavior, mental and emotional health, muscle movement, vision, speech, and can cause symptoms such as headaches, seizures, and nausea.

What You Can Do to Limit Your Risk

While the risks are still being determined by ongoing research, there are things you can do now to minimize your own risk. Don’t wait to see whether or not you develop a tumor or start having seizures—incorporate these practices today to reduce your risk!

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following practices when it comes to minimizing your risk:

• Keeping your phone away from your head and body during calls. This includes using headphones and speakerphone but not Bluetooth devices, as these also emit radiation.
• Limit the number and length of calls you make every day. Try to only use your phone when needed. No more than a half-hour of talk time every day is recommended.
• Use your phone in areas that get good reception. This practice limits your exposure because it lets your phone work at reduced power.
• Turn your phone off or put it in airplane mode whenever you’re not using it. This keeps the phone from putting out radiofrequency. You should especially do this while sleeping!

If you’re worried about what health problems you may have already incurred from your cell phone use, having health insurance can ensure you get screenings and other checkups where your health can be assessed and a tumor can be detected if it’s there.

Although cell phones have become a necessary device in our modern society for many people, these convenient phones are not without their risk. There’s no distinction between a smartphone and a regular cell phone when it comes to brain cancer.

Be mindful of how much time you use your cell phone every day. Incorporate practices that keep your phone away from your body. Although the jury is still out in some parts of the world, it’s not in Italy—soon the rest of us may take to heart the dangers of cell phone radiation.