New research links mobile phone use to mouth cancer

NI Wire

New Delhi

Wed, 19 Dec 2007: 

Dec 19:  There have always been arguments and counter research over the frequent use of cell phones and long term effects on health. Though there is so far no significant outcome over the possible impact of bile phone technology on health, the recent one in news is the rise to mouth cancer.

A group of international researchers in their study found that frequent use of mobile phones may cause malignant mouth tumour. Scientists in their research observed a control group of 1,266 people and compared the lifestyle of 402 people with benign mouth tumours and 56 having malignant.

Researchers found that those who use cell phones more frequently are more likely to develop parotid gland tumours. Scientists asserted that a continuous use of mobile phones for five years may increase the chance of getting mouth tumour by 50 percent compared to those who don’t use.

Parotid is the largest salivary gland found in the subcutaneous tissue of the face and constant use of mobile phones may cause the growth of tumour on the same side of the face, the phone was normally held, researcher said.

Earlier the scientists have discovered the link between the use of mobile and cancer but those were inconsistent with not much proved in this regard. Researches are still on from several fronts to discover the exact impact of mobile phone technology in memory loss, headache, immune system and the entire function of the brain.

The study also found that people who used mobile phone in very less amount of connectivity are tend to have affected more with this as the phone work hard to get connection thereby more variation in electromagnetic radiation inviting greater risk.

Though there is not much evidence against the use of mobile phones as far as its impact on health is concerned but scientists prefer to take a precautionary approach. But there are certain findings which point out that radio frequency medium or any kind of electro magnetic radiation do disturb the biological cycle to a great extent.

As phones are used closed to brains it is likely that frequent use can disturb the functioning of brain and thereby other biological function like heart and blood pressure, but to what extent is still a question. However, the effect of radiation from mobile phones in short-term or long-term is still a question.

In fact with the growing concern it is not only the health professionals who are trying to make possible link between mobile phone and people’s health but also the mobile phone industry which should take the issue seriously. Hence there is a good research onto the health impact of the mobile phone use.