Study proved a connection between Cellphone and Cancer

The risk of cell phone use have long been argued but for the first time a clear connection between cell phone use and higher risk of cancer has been proved in a study by Tel Aviv University.

Scientists from Tel Aviv University (TAU), Rabin Medical Center and the Technion studied the spit content of 20 long-term heavy cell phone users. Defined as a mean of 12 years of 30 hours a week of use. Their saliva was in comparison to a control group of mostly deaf people who do not use a cell phone or use them only for text messages.

In their study, published in the scientific journal Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, the researchers noted:

“Increasing use of cell phones creates increasing concerns about harmful effect of radio frequency non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on human tissues found close to the ear, where mobile phones are commonly held for a long period.”

They determined that as opposed to nonusers, cell phone users’ saliva showed much higher signs of oxidative stress, regarded as a major threat cause for cancer.

How does cell cell phone use increase the chance of cancer?

Cell phones emit radiation. There are two types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Mobile phones emit radiation of the non-ionizing type. This means, there is not enough energy to knock an electron off a molecule. This kind of radiation was once considered safe. However, a lot more studies like this one are pointing to many adverse biological results of non-ionizing radiation.

Oxidative stress, as found in the Tel Aviv cell phone study, shows a difference between the general manifestation of reactive oxygen species and the ability to clean or repair the resulting damage. It is a process that harms human cells, including DNA, through creating toxic peroxide and free radicals. This damage caused by oxidative stress is connected to cellular and genetic mutation, which can cause developing tumors.

Evidence building

This is not the first time cell phones have been linked to cancer. In 2011 the World Health Organization, determined that emissions from cell phones are “possibly carcinogenic” and classified them as a possible “Category 2B carcinogen.”

The results of the Tel Aviv study do not reveal a definite “cause and effect” between cellular phone use and cancer but they add to the developing proof that cell phone use is dangerous. The results also point to a new direction for further research.

A potential opportunity of future research would be to analyze your saliva before cell phone use, and then again after several intense minutes of cell phone use. The author of the Tel Aviv study, Dr. Hamzany, says this would allow researchers to see if there is an immediate response such as a rise in molecules that show oxidative stress.

As proof on the harmful effect of cell phones mounts, so does the number of people using these handheld devices.