Cell Phones Don't Cause Cancer, Study Says

Tweet

A study conducted by a group of Swiss scientists led by Martin Roosli of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute found no link between cell phone use and increase of brain tumor risk among kids and adolescents. The study observed 352 individuals between the ages of 7 and 19 who have been diagnosed with brain tumors.

Concerns on whether cell phone usage affects children come from the fact that young people’s nervous systems are still developing. Health professionals warn that cell phone emissions could penetrate deeper into their brains. Back in May of this year, the World Health Organization published a study that pegs cell phones as a carcinogenic hazard. This new study indicates that “a large and immediate risk of cellphones causing brain tumors in children can be excluded.”

But Roosli admits that data limitations exist. For example, the subjects have only been using their cell phones for an average time span of 4 years. Additionally, teens don’t spend much time making calls, as they more commonly use their phones for text messaging, so he believes “we should still keep an eye” on it. But if you have a kid, and you’ve used the argument that phones can cause cancer so you won’t have to get them a phone, you best be prepared for some counter-argument.