Frequent Mobile Phone Using Boosts Cancer Risk to Some extent

Heavy users of mobile phones are 50 percent more likely to develop cancer of the salivary glands, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology

Researchers found that those who use cellular phones several hours per day against the same side of the head had a 50 percent higher tumor risk than those who used phones less frequently.

A number of studies have linked heavy mobile phone using with the health problems such as sleep disruption and brain cancer. While the mobile phone industry often says that studies have proved the devices safe, the researchers noted that these studies tend to look only a short-term exposure, whereas radiation-related health problems may often take up to a decade before symptoms develop.

Compared with urban users, heavy mobile phone users in rural residents face an even higher tumor risk as the higher radiation is required for mobile phones to function with fewer towers.