New international research suggests that mobile phone radiation does not increase the risk of children developing brain tumours. Still, Kids and Media recommends caution when using mobile phones.

by Rune H. Rasmussen

Experts do not seem to come to an agreement on whether mobile phone radiation causes an increased risk of cancer or not. Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as 'possibly carcinogenic’ due to studies, such as the 2010 Interphone study, which pointed to an increased incidence of brain cancer among heavy mobile phone users.

However, a new report, published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute, based on a multicenter case-control study conducted in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland, concludes that the results does not support a causal association between the use of mobile phones and brain tumours among children and young people.

The study included 352 individuals aged 7-19 years who were diagnosed with a brain tumour between 2004 and 2008. Their mobile phone usage was compared with 646 randomly selected controls of the same age group. The results showed that patients with brain tumours were not significantly more likely to have been regular mobile phone users than controls. The researchers also found that there was no increased risk of tumours in the areas of the brain receiving the highest amount of exposure.

Professor Christoffer Johansen, one of the researchers, says: 
”Regular mobile phone use does not increase the risk of developing cancer. The study is designed to enable us to detect even a slight elevation in risk, but we see no increase.”

Kids and Media advises caution
Director of Kids and Media, Oystein Samnoen, encourages children and young people to take some precautionary measures when using mobile phones:

“We see that various research agencies concludes somewhat differently with regard to whether mobile phone radiation is harmful to children and young people or not. However, in general, most research does neither conclude with certainty, nor with there being a great risk of mobile phones causing cancer. There will still be a long time before we know enough about the effects of mobile phone usage to draw reliable conclusions. For this reason, Kids and Media encourages a principle of precaution."

Samnoen points out some simple measures that will reduce the risk of exposure to mobile radiation:
“There are some simple tips that parents can teach their children, such as using hands-free kits or send SMS’ rather than making calls. When possible, one should avoid holding the phone very close to the ear, as this increases the brain’s exposure to electromagnetic fields."

Kids and Media’s advice to reduce exposure to radiation:

• Limit the number of calls and duration.

• Send text messages (SMS) rather than making calls.
• Use hands-free kits or speakerphone.
• Keep the phone away from your body while talking. If you manage to keep some distance between the phone and your head, you’ll reduce exposure with up to 99 per cent.
• Do not keep the phone under the pillow or near your body at night. Ideally, turn it off.
• Choose a phone with a low level of radiation. For this reason, check the SAR value of your mobile phone. The SAR value varies from 0,1 to 2,0 W/kg. The higher the SAR the more radiation is absorbed.
  (SAR (specific absorption rate) is a measurement of how much electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by body tissue whilst using a mobile phone)
• Make sure you have good coverage while making calls. In poor mobile phone reception areas, exposure values increase significantly. In fact, radiation may be a thousand times worse!
• Use a landline phone (not wireless) when you are at home.

Source:

Vitenskab.dk (National online research portal – Denmark) 

Related articles on kidsandmedia.co.uk:

WHO: Mobile phone use causes an increased risk of cancer 

Good advice on how to reduce exposure to mobile radiation

Inconclusive mobile phone study

Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority

Advice on children and mobile phones