Study: Cell Phones Don't Raise Brain Tumor Risk

Cell phone use does not raise the risk for brain tumors, a new Danish study suggests.

In this study, researchers questioned 427 patients who had brain tumors and 822 healthy individuals on their past cell phone use. The researchers also reviewed some of the cell phone records of both groups to document the amount and length of calls made.

They found no increased risk for brain tumors related to cell phone use, frequency of use or number of years of use. The scientists also say there was no evidence that brain tumors occur more often on the side of the head where the participants usually held their cell phones.

Why The Concern?

Although some studies have suggested an increased risk of brain tumors with cell phone use, "those studies have been criticized for problems with (their) design," says Dr. Christoffer Johansen of the Danish Cancer Society, who conducted the latest research.

His findings support most of the studies deemed to be more credible, he says.

Still, there have been few long-term or heavy cell phone users involved in any of the studies examining a possible link between cell phone use and brain tumors, Johansen notes.

"In our study, few people reported regular cell phone use for 10 years or more. We won't be able to make any firm conclusions until we can confirm these results with studies (involving more long-term and heavy cell phone users," he says.