Researcher Igor Yakymenko has announced that his team has found a link between cancer and cell phones through a new meta-study — a study of hundreds of other studies. The results include findings of a variety of illnesses linked to long-term cell phone use from headaches to skin ailments to cancer.
The Ukrainian study at the Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology in Kiev is likely to cause a great deal of controversy since it bucks the trend of studies finding no links.
The study “Oxidative Mechanisms of Biological Activity of Low-intensity Radiofrequency Radiation,” a review article published in Electromagnetic Biology & Medicine, looked at the metabolic effects of low-intensity radiofrequency radiation in living cells. “Oxidative stress” is an “imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defence.”
Yakymenko explains the oxidative stress due to RFR exposure could explain not only cancer, but also other minor disorders such as headache, fatigue, and skin irritation, which could develop after long-term RFR exposure. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified RFR as a possible carcinogen for humans. This study says that there is a link and that the data shows “a clear sign of the real risks this kind of radiation poses for human health.”
The team found that cell phone use for just 20 minutes a day for five years increased the risk of one type of brain tumor threefold while using the phone an hour a day for four years can increase the risk of some tumors three to five times.
The concern with children is particularly great “for children who use cells phone in childhood, when their biology much more sensitive to hazardous factors, and will use it over the life.”
Research like this study will be subject to a withering level of scrutiny and criticism. However, legally such studies can put companies on notice of a possible product defect and danger. Given the size of this industry, the result could be a massive change in the technology and liability for market and its participants in the coming years.
the note – not a research paper and as far as I could see not peer-reviewed – claims to include a review of 80 papers.
it includes only 42 references, and none appear to be meta-analyses.
so, which 80 studies did these folks review?
Yes, wireless radiation causes cancer in addition to many other profound health effects. So, why is it in our children’s classrooms?
Yay, Jack!!! It is not only “shove it down your throat”, but also “ridicule all who dare to spit it out” mentality. A girlfriend of mine – she has a B.A. from Northwestern and a M.A. from George Washington- actually said, “you don´t have a smartphone? You have to have one or else young people won´t take you seriously.” When I hear stuff like that from so-called educated people I almost want to give up. It´s very depressing.
Even if cell phones and wireless cause cancer, no one (but a few concerned citizens) cares. There’s a “shove it down your throat” mentality toward new technology especially as used for surveillance, marketing, making people work more, etc. It probably f**ing does cause brain cancer but we’re forced to live with it, as we must live with Monsanto, Nestle, license plate readers, 24 hour a day work week, and all the rest the policy people have decided to rape us with.
I’ve heard numerous times that cell phones contribute to cancer and some other diseases. I’m not an expert, but I try to speak on the speaker phone instead of up to my ear. I don’t put it in my pocket, or at least not from very long.
I don’t think it’s wise to let children play with your cell phone or watch cartoons on it for very long.
Time and more studies will eventually reveal the truth–or not.
There are standards for the electromagnetic field near wires and equipment. Cell phones have to little power to even come close to a thousant of the conservative limit of the standard.
This study has no credibility, for electrical engineers at least.
Best to look at the source of the study and the funding of the study. Those coming from industry–like the telecom industry–tend to find no health effects like 74% of the time. That still means that 26% find heath effects. However totally independent studies are almost the opposite finding effects 75+% of the time. Not all studies are created equal. Who would you believe–a researcher being paid by the multibillion dollar cell phone industry OR an independent researcher who has nothing to gain and everything to lose by crossing a huge and profitable industry? Don’t be a dumbass. Look objectively at this. Cell phone are causing all kinds of issues for people, animals, birds, bee, and plants. Our own Department of Interior sent a scathing letter to the FCC to tell them to do their damn job and stop this massive coverage of radiofrequency radiation that we are exposed to which has never been tested for safety. Wake up people. We are being played and damaged for profit.
Before we even consider RF energy as a cause of of human brain cancer, some one should at least verify that the 2.4 Ghz radio waves emitted by cell phones at typical power levels are able to even penetrate the human skull. The brain is surrounded by multiple layers of tissue, starting with the tough leathery meninges that cover the brain, followed by bony skull, then a thick water laden scalp (water is a potent absorber of RF in this range…think your microwave oven) and then hair (at least for some of us 🙂 I am skeptical that there would be enough measurable intracranial energy from a cell phone to have any biological effect. Has anyone ever set up a human skull simulation and put an RF frequency analyzer within to actually measure power levels in a human skull? The best way to assess this would be to measure brain cancer rates among heavy cell phone users against those who shun such devices, such as the Amish. My guess is this second rate science belongs in the same trash can as the thoroughly debunked vaccine/autism link. Sadly, our get it now, publish now, without fact checking press will pass along any crap science press release they get to fill the space that sells advertising and many readers lack the scientific background to have a healthy skepticism of such claims.
Even if this study is true (seems like a big correlation is not causality problem), compare the dangers to the use of automobiles (accidents, pollution), alcohol (drunk driving, liver damage), prescription painkillers (kills more than illegal drugs), skiing and other recreation (broken bones, concussions, death), video games (sloth), etc. Cell phones are just a more sensational topic.
This sounds like a “study” done several years ago that was debunked. Maybe a set up to sue manufacturers of cell phones if a person develops brain cancer????
Cell phones cause cancer only while wearing a leisure suit.
Next week we will have a study that proves that cell phones do not cause cancer. There are too many studies.
RWL, LOL!
I’ve long believed some people are more susceptible to brain cancer w/ cell phone use. I am curmudgeonly like Isaac regarding the intrusiveness of cell phones. Being an introvert, I despise talking on the phone. It seems many people live their lives connected to their phone.
No wonder why Tom Brady destroyed his cell phone…. Lol…..
It is well established that cell phone use increases traffic accidents, mindless babble syndrome, normal brain activity, incursion into private spaces in public, etc, etc, etc……