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US scientists have called for more research into the associated health risks of mobile phone usage. The scientists have warned US public health legislators that mobile phone usage is particularly risky for children.
US scientists have called for more research into the associated health risks of mobile phone usage. The scientists have warned US public health legislators that mobile phone usage is particularly risky for children and that urgent research needs to be conducted.
“We must not repeat the situation we had with the relationship between smoking and lung cancer,” said David Carpenter, director of the Institute of Health and Environment at the University of Albany, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy.
Carpenter’s appeal was backed up by Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, who stated that studies “claiming that there is no link between mobile phones and brain tumours are outdated, had methodological concerns and did not include sufficient numbers of long-term mobile phone users.”
Many studies denying a link “defined regular cell (mobile) phones as ‘once a week,”‘ added Herberman.
“I cannot tell this committee that cell phones are definitely dangerous. But, I certainly cannot tell you that they are safe,” he said.
Both specialists agreed that brain cancer risk from mobile phone use is far greater for children than for adults. Using
Herberman even went so far as to recommend health warnings not unlike those currently displayed on cigarette packs. Mobile phone users “need a precautionary message.”
The committee were shown several European studies, particularly surveys from Scandinavia – where the mobile phone was first developed – which show that the radiation emitted by mobile phones have definite biological consequences.
Source:
The Age
