Britain's Daily Telegraph reports the World Health Organisation (WHO) will publish evidence showing prolonged use of a mobile phone increases the risk of developing brain tumours later in life.

Head of the WHO Interphone study, Dr Elisabeth Cardis, said the report would include a public health message and recommend children limit their use of mobiles.

"I would not go as far as banning mobile phones as they can be a very important tool, not only in emergencies, but also maintaining contact between children and their parents and thus playing a reassurance role," she said.

"In the absence of definitive results and in the light of a number of studies which, though limited, suggest a possible effect of radio frequency radiation, precautions are important."

The decade-long investigation may counteract previous studies and the assurances of mobile phone companies that their products are safe.

A leading researcher says the study has not found anything conclusive.

Professor Bruce Armstrong from the University of Sydney is working on the WHO study.

He says the study has not yet confirmed whether or not there is an increased risk of cancer from mobile phone use.

He expects the findings of the study to be released by the end of the year.

"There is, as far as a I know, absolutely no information circulating at the moment that is accurate and correct with respects to the results of that study," he said.

"I'm expecting that there will be no such information until it is actually published."

I'd just text only.

JustErin said:

and what if excessive texting was proven to lead to thumb cancer?

ZombieKitten said:

I can still type with nubs, right? I think I need my brain to live.

I don't have a mobile phone!

I love people but I don't like them.

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[Edited 10/26/09 4:59am]

ultrablue said:

I HATE using mine. I mean, loathe it.
And I think it's terribly rude when my friends are out with me and they spend half their time on the damned phone. You're not 16 years old anymore--you don't need to prove you have an active social life--wait till after lunch or dinner and check the voicemails accordingly.
In Bangkok, standing on the BTS sky-train is like standing in some weird quasi-futuristic planet where all of it's inhabitants exist in their on isolated bubbles and these devices create a small protective forcefield which gives them some sense of safety, self-validation, and purpose.

Imago said:

The BTS is so clean too! I used it the other day for the first time in maybe 6 months and I really hoped to see at least some small graffiti scribbled in biro or something, but no.

I hate phones. I felt uncomfortable talking to you on the phone, but not that much. You're like about number 4 on my least uncomfortable talking on the phone to people behind Mon, my mother and my father.

It will be interesting what the study shows, I only hope that the study is enormous and breaks down to include safe usage times.

People still smoke, people still drink, people still use heroine, people will continue to use their phones.

I guess that the result will indicate that there will be a slight increase in risk of brain cancer with excessive use. It will cause worldwide paranoia, and lead to phones being banned in public places and research into the chances of brain cancer from passive exposure to other peoples phone calls.

PREDOMINANT said:

You go girl!!!


Hope all is well in the UK.

Imago said:

All is grand, still haven't seen baby bennet.

ultrablue said:

That's quite some accomplishment, since all I remember doing on our first lengthy conversation (lenthy for each of us--Karen's the only person I can talk to for hours on end), is commenting on your accent then asking you to say 'poontang' to see how it sounded with your voice . You must have said it at least 3 or 4 times. !!

The BTS sky-train is so clean it's scary. Which makes the subway even scarier because it's so clean, I think you could eat off the floors. I'm serious. I've been to several big cities around the world, and NONE have a subway THAT clean.

Imago said:

I still hated talking to you on the phone. Mon's at number 1 on that list and when I pick up the phone to talk to her (she has a special number of rings then puts down and calls again ) I pace about the room and wait for the earliest socially acceptable time to say goodbye. It's not that I don't want to talk to you, of course.

ultrablue said:

you have issues!

It will be interesting what the study shows, I only hope that the study is enormous and breaks down to include safe usage times.

People still smoke, people still drink, people still use heroine, people will continue to use their phones.

I guess that the result will indicate that there will be a slight increase in risk of brain cancer with excessive use. It will cause worldwide paranoia, and lead to phones being banned in public places and research into the chances of brain cancer from passive exposure to other peoples phone calls.

I use mine maybe a total MAX of 10-15 minutes a month - so ... Yes