New study links cell phone usage to cancer

Posted by Marguerite Reardon

Just when you thought it was safe to talk on your cell phone.

Now some scientists say there is a chance that talking on a mobile phone for as little as 10 minutes could trigger changes in the brain that are associated with cancer, according to a story published on Thursday by the The Daily Mail.

The article said that researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel discovered that exposure to even low levels of radiation from mobile handsets could interfere with how brain cells divide, thus causing tumors.

But the scientists said there was no evidence to suggest a definite link between radiation from mobile phones and cancer. Instead the study merely suggests that certain cells can react to cell phone radiation. A health expert in the article said the effect was "unlikely to cause cancer."

This isn't the first time that studies have implicated cell phones in causing cancer. Back in 2006, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration said it would review wireless-phone safety based on findings in a study conducted by the Swedish National Institute that raised concerns about a heightened risk of brain cancer. Researchers found an increased risk of cancerous tumors growing in people's heads who were heavy cell phone users.

In any case, it looks like one more thing I'll have to worry about when it comes to reducing my risk of cancer along with reusing plastic water bottles, microwaving food in plastic containers, and using deodorant with antiperspirant.