Cell Phones Are Safe – at Least from One Viewpoint

For years people have been worried that cell phones may cause electromagnetic fields around the head that can lead to brain cancer. These fears can now be laid to rest. A report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute from Denmark describes the results of a study of 400,000 Danes who had used cell phones for up to 21 years!

The researchers had already reported in 2001 that their survey showed no increase in cancer incidence in people using cell phones. They have now enlarged their data base, with records of private and public cell phone subscriptions during the period from 1982 to 1995. The average time of use was 8.5 years, and15% of the men (5.5% of the women) had possessed cell phones for 10 to 21 years. There was no increase in these people over the expected rate with respect to leukemia, brain, nervous system, salivary gland, or eye tumors.

Although reassuring, this doesn’t mean that cell phone use is safe – at least, not when you’re driving. You may not be going to die from a tumor, but your chances of an accident are raised considerably when you talk-and-drive.