Study Links Cell Use to Mouth Tumors

Israeli research contradicts 2-year-old data from Sweden
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 18, 2008 8:45 PM CST
Study Links Cell Use to Mouth Tumors
A man speaks with his phone at the World Mobile Phone Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)   (Associated Press)

People who use cell phones frequently are 50% more likely to develop salivary gland tumors, according to a new study. Researchers at Tel Aviv University compared a population of nearly 500 tumor patients to a control group of healthy subjects; more than 400 of the 500 patients selected for study had benign tumors, while 58 suffered from malignant ones.

Information Week notes that the study contradicts a 2006 report in the same journal, in which Swedish researchers said cell phone use contained no increased tumor risk. "While I think this technology is here to stay, I believe precautions should be taken in order to diminish the exposure and lower the risk for health hazards," the lead Israeli researcher said in a statement. (More cell phones stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X