The evidence is growing that using cellphones increases the risk of developing glioma, a deadly form of brain cancer. A recent Swedish study found that people who talked on cellphones for more than 25 years had triple the risk compared to those who used the phones for less than a year.
The Swedish study, which was published in the journal Pathophysiology, found that people who used the phones the most — a total of 1,486 hours — doubled their risk of being diagnosed with glioma. A previous Swedish study found that people who used cellphones regularly before the age of 20 quadrupled their risk of the rare tumor. An article, also published in Pathophysiology stated that brain cancer is only the "tip of the iceberg" because the rest of the body shows effects other than cancers.
The actual numbers of gliomas caused by cellphones may be much higher since many gliomas are never reported. In addition, we see a higher number of gliomas over the next ten years since more and longer use of cellphones is now taking place. In addition, more younger people are also using cellphones.
The microwaves emitted by cellphones have been shown to cause DNA damage and induce inflammation — chronic inflammation in tissues eventually leads to cancer in a higher number or users.
Other past research has also linked cellphones with cancer and other health problems.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University examined the saliva of men who used their cellphones for at least eight hours a month and compared it to people who did NOT use cellphones at all, or only used them to send text messages. The results of that study showed that the saliva of those who were heavy users showed high amounts of oxidative stress, which damages DNA and is an important risk factor for cancer and cause the development of tumors.
Researchers at the Israeli Weitzmann Institute of Science found cellphones increased the risk of tumors in the salivary glands by 50 percent. The risk was even higher if the caller always used the same ear and did NOT use a hands-free gadget, or used the phone while in a rural area where reception was poor. In this study, the researchers found that a call lasting just 10 minutes can trigger changes in brain cells that are associated with cancer.
Past studies have shown that cellphones also affect brain function. A Russian study found that children who used cellphones had poorer memories than those children who did NOT and a British study found that cellphones increased the risk of memory loss, sleeping disorders, and headaches in children.
An animal study conducted at Yale University found that cellphones caused changes in brain development that could cause hyperactivity. "We have shown that behavioral problems in mice that resemble ADHD are caused by cellphone exposure in the womb," said senior researcher Dr. Hugh S. Taylor, a reproductive specialist. "The rise in behavioral disorders in human children may be in part due to fetal cellular telephone irradiation exposure."
In a study from the University of Toronto, it was found that an increased risk of auto accidents for up to 15 minutes occurred after a call was completed.
Cellphones could also be making men less fertile it seems. Many men carry their cellphone in their pants pocket, which allows their sperm to be exposed to harmful radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. This study was published in the journal Environmental International, found that sperms' normal ability to move toward an egg dropped in men who carried cellphones in their pockets.
In my opinion, we are just learning of the health hazards of cell phone use. More and more studies show considerable evidence that cell phones damage the brain as well as other tissues and organs.
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