Do cell phones really cause brain tumors?

Unless we have conclusive evidence, are we all going to give up or limit our cell phone usage? I doubt it! I did some research on the subject of cell phones and increased tumors. The most trusted information that I came across was from the National Cancer Institute.

The issue in question is really radio frequencies (RF). These are a form of electromagnetic radiation, but are a low frequency, non-ionizing form, unlike the ones emitted from x-ray machines. These low frequency RF waves are emitted by the cell phone antennae. One way to reduce the amount of RF without giving up or limiting cell phone usage is to increase the distance between the cell phone and the user, by going hands free.

So far the results from several major studies about the following types of tumors (cancerous and non-cancerous), gliomas, meningiomas, and neuromas, have all showed NO link. However, "further evaluation of long term exposure (more than 10 years) is needed to be conclusive."

According to the NCI website the following study is being performed, but it gave no date when it would be concluded.

“A series of multinational case-control studies (comparing individuals who have a disease or condition [case subjects] with a similar group of people who do not have the disease or condition [control subjects]), collectively known as the INTERPHONE study, are being coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (11). The primary objective of these studies is to assess whether RF energy exposure from cellular telephones is associated with an increased risk of malignant or benign brain tumors and other head and neck tumors. Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (12).”

Since these are long-term, case controlled studies, their findings will carry a lot of weight and credibility.

My information came from the following source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones

Additionally the NCI quoted the following site for further information:

“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates interstate and international communications, provides consumers with information about human exposure to RF energy from cellular telephones and other devices at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety on the Internet. This Web page includes links to information about the specific absorption rate (SAR) of cellular telephones produced and marketed within the last 1 to 2 years. The SAR corresponds to the relative amount of RF energy absorbed into the head of a cellular telephone user. Consumers can access this information using the phone's FCC ID number, which is usually located on the case of the phone."

Lastly, we can’t go through life worrying about things that may be discovered 10 to 20 years from now. Technology is the road to our future. We cannot stop it and someday we might need it to save human kind.