New Research Potentially Ties Cell Phone Use to Cancer

New Research Potentially Ties Cell Phone Use to Cancer

By Keith Black, MD

Published Aug 5, 2013

There’s much debate about whether cell phones are linked to increased risk of cancer, particularly brain cancer. My position has always been: Since we still don’t know with certainty, it’s better to be safe than sorry by keeping cell phone handsets away from your body whenever possible.

I came across some new research announced last week from Tel Aviv University that suggests heavy cell phone usage may alter the content of the user’s saliva; specifically, the saliva content of “heavy” cell phone users (those who spoke on their cell phones for at least eight hours a month) showed more oxidative stress compared to non cell phone users. Oxidative stress has been known to cause damage at the cellular level and is considered a risk for cancer. The researchers tested users’ saliva because a cell phone is placed near the salivary gland during use.

Of course, more research is needed before establishing the claim that cell phones cause oxidative stress, which in turn causes cancer. I should also note that the study had a very small sample size of 20 cell phone users.

Still, it’s great to hear of these studies because they contribute to a growing record of research investigating the effects of cell phone use. Other studies that come to mind include one that found cell phone usage increased brain glucose metabolism in the areas of the brain close to the phone’s antenna (see “The Link Between Cell Phone Use and Brain Activity”), as well as the massive multinational Interphone study on cell phones and brain cancer risk, which was largely inconclusive and, in my opinion, had several shortcomings.

In the meantime, I will continue to tell all my patients to keep their cell phones away from their ears and heads whenever possible and, instead, to use wired earphones (not a wireless Bluetooth piece) or the phone’s speaker function. I urge you to, too.

Mind your health,

Dr. Keith Black

http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/keith-black-brain-health/new-research-potentially-ties-cell-phone-use-to-cancer/?xid=aol_eh-news_1_20130805_&aolcat=HLT&ncid=wsc-dl-cards-headline