Study reveals that usage of mobile phones does not increase glioma risk

Study reveals that usage of mobile phones does not increase glioma risk
According to a study published in the issue of British Medical Journal dated January 21, perception that use of mobile phones puts people at an increased risk of glioma, the most common type of brain tumor, does not hold water.

The study conducted by researchers from the universities of Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester and the Institute of Cancer Research in London studied 966 people suffering from glioma and 1,716 persons with no history of brain tumor. These people were asked about their mobile phone usage habits including the types of phones they used.

Professor Patricia McKinney, of the University of Leeds said: “Overall, we found no raised risk of glioma associated with regular mobile phone use and no association with time since first use, lifetime years of use, cumulative hours of use, or number of calls.”

However, it was acknowledged that there appeared to be an increased risk of tumor on the side of the head where people held their phones.

Professor Anthony Swerdlow of the Cancer Research Institute, who co-authored the report, attributed it to over-reporting by patients. He added: “People have a tendency to remember and/or embellish or falsely remember those things that they think might be relevant.”

This study was carried out over four years and included volunteers whose ages ranged from 18 to 69.

In the US, each year 20,000 cases of brain tumors are diagnosed as against 4,000 in the UK.

Swerdlow said that this survey was larger than any others published till date and 13 countries had collaborated in it.

Dr Kat Arney, science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “This is the biggest and most thorough study into mobile phones and glioma so far, and it adds to the growing evidence that there is no link.”