14 DAY TRIAL // We are addicted to the bone to mobile phones, but a new research comes with a warning for our technological world: the regular use of a mobile phone over more than a decade can raise the risk of cancer.
The long-term users were found to have a double chance of developing a malignant tumor on the side of the brain where they held the mobile, and an hour per day on a mobile phone increased the risk as well.
The Swedish research team also points that current international standard meant to protect users from radiations was far from safe and required modifications.
"Children should be discouraged from using mobiles because their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems made them especially vulnerable." wrote the researchers.
The team analyzed the cases of long-term users because cancer develops in almost a decade. The meta-analysis realized by Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro and Professor Kjell Hansson Mild of Umea University, was based on 11 researches made worldwide.
Almost all studies encountered a higher risk of cancer of the glial cells (auxiliary brain cells that support and protect the neurons, the brain's functional cells). The chance of acoustic neuromas, benign tumors causing tumors, was increased 2.5 times by the intensive use of the mobile phones.
The Swedish researchers found that people using their phones for over a decade are 20 % more likely to develop acoustic neuromas and 30 % more likely to grow malignant gliomas.
The mobile phone industry contradicts the new findings.
"This is not new data for the World Health Organisation and the many independent expert scientific committees who state that there are no established health risks from using mobile phones that comply with international guidelines." said the Mobile Operators Association.
The Health Protection Agency signals that the new research "may be indicative" of a risk but "such analyses cannot be conclusive" and trials must be done.