Mobile Phones: Are They More Dangerous Than Smoking?

June 3, 2008
An award-winning neurosurgeon is warning of a huge rise in tumors from cell phones and is calling on industry to take immediate steps to reduce radiation.

Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, according to a study by Dr. Vini Khurana, a neurosurgeon and award-winning cancer expert, and distributed by Awen Grove (http://www.mybiopro.com/awengrove).

Khurana warns that people should avoid using cell phones wherever possible and that governments and the mobile phone industry must take “immediate steps” to reduce exposure to their radiation.

“It is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking,” says Khurana. He believes that the 3 billion people in the world that now use cell phones worldwide are at risk and that deaths and illnesses from cell phone use could exceed the harm from smoking.

The groundbreaking study draws on growing evidence that use for 10 years or more can double the risk of brain cancer. Earlier this year, the French government followed Great Britain in warning against the use of mobile phones, especially by children. Germany also advises its citizens to minimize handset use, and the European Environment Agency has called for exposures to be reduced.

Noting that malignant brain tumors represent “a life-ending diagnosis,” Khurana adds: “We are currently experiencing a reactively unchecked and dangerous situation.” He fears that “unless the industry and governments take immediate and decisive steps,” the incidence of malignant brain tumors and associated death rate will be observed to rise globally within a decade from now, by which time it may be far too late to intervene medically.

Khurana offers these precautions to consider to reduce the risk of cancer related to cell phone use:

  • Do not use a cell phone.
  • Do not carry a cell phone on or near your body when not in use.
  • Use air tube headsets, not wire headsets, with your phones. Wire headsets, says Khurana, conduct greater radiation to the head.
About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

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