The ongoing controversy of the cell phone link to tumors just took another turn. An analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on Oct. 13 took a closer look at 23 studies of approximately 38,000 people.

By Frankie Sakamoto
News Editor

From eight of these studies, cell phone users have a 10 to 30 percent increased risk of tumors compared to those who never or rarely use cell phones. In 13 studies, people who had been using cell phones for 10 or more years are at risk for tumors.

“The side of phone use appears to be important, and indicates the impact is very local… long-term right-sided phone use increases risk of right-sided brain tumors,” Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, director of the Brain Tumor Center at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, said.

Kelly also said people, especially high school students, should reduce the time they spend on cell phones, because of their “more immature and still developing nervous system.”

According to a survey of 320 students at ET, 223 students make calls on their phone for three or less hours per week and 47 of them would not cut back on cell phone use if it was proven to increase tumor risk.

“I would definitely change how I used it, like using a headset or not keeping my phone in my pocket but in my purse,” junior Michelle Kristiansen said.

There is concern about the ties of cell phones and tumor risk because cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (RF), a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

According to the Federal Communications Commission, there is no scientific evidence proving wireless phone usage can lead to cancer. However, government-sponsored research to determine the effects of cell phone usage on the human body is ongoing.

According to the FCC, there are limits on a cell phone’s specific absorption rate of RF energy to 1.6 watts per kilogram per gram of tissue, which must be tested and confirmed before the cell phone can be sold to the public.

And tumors aren’t the only hot topic related to cell phones. According to a study in Jan. 2008 by Cleveland Clinic, men who use cell phones more than four hours a day have seen a drop in sperm count, leading to infertility.

Although studies show there is not enough RF energy emitted to produce significant tissue and body heating, further studies need to be done to determine whether it is a bodily danger, according to the NCI.

It is difficult to come by long-term studies, though, because cell phone use has only been widespread in the U.S. since the 1990s and many changes with frequencies and applications in cell phone technology have occurred since then, according to Environmental Health Perspectives.

There has also been a great increase in cell phone users, from 110 million in 2000 to over 270 million in Dec. 2008, creating concern of the effects cell phone use has on the human body.

“The accumulating data certainly suggests we should all be careful and limit cell phone use if possible, using blue tooth or hands-free devices if possible, especially in younger age groups such as teens and adolescents,” Kelly said.