Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer
The tumor was on the same side of the head where she held her cell phone and was shaped like cell phone antenna. Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer case got widespread media attention and was featured in CNN's Larry King Show.
Although the claim was rejected by the court for lack of sufficient evidence, it was a PR nightmare for the wireless industry. It was also the beginning of the global search for a definitive answer to the question: Are cell phones safe or not? Is it cause cancer and other degenerative diseases? Brain cancer has increased by 25% since cell phones became popular. Every year, 183,000 more Cases in the U.S. alone. Some health experts say there is a connection with mobile phone use, but is there any proof?
In an attempt to spread the negative publicity of the high profile trial, mobile phone industry itself funded a $ 25 million U.S. dollars for research to prove that cell phones are safe. After 6 years of intensive research, However, the results were not what they were looking for. Dr. George Carlo, the chief investigator of the program, found evidence that cell phones pose a health risk, even cancer.
The first signs of cancer link that shook the mobile phone industry came in 1997. Dr. Michael Repacholi and his colleagues from the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia reported that prolonged exposure to the type of radiation that comes from digital cell phones caused an increase in the incidence of lymphoma in mice. The study has received wide international media attention because it was the first time that cancer has been linked to cell phone in a well conducted study.
THR red flags: Addressing Cancer PUZZLE
To show a link between cell phone radiation and cancer, so let us look at several studies Dr. Carlo study that prompted him to blow the whistle, so to speak. These red flags finding pieces that fit together to form cancer picture:
– DNA damage in human blood Studies
– Breakdown of blood-brain barrier
– Studies of tumors in people who use mobile phones
– Studies of Cell Phone Radiation Dosage and Response
DNA damage in human blood
All tumors and all cancers are the result of genetic damage. Most often that damage includes the formation micronuclei – fragments of chromosomes that form membranes around themselves and appear under a microscope, as additional nuclei in blood cells (which normally has only a single core). The relationship between micronuclei and cancer is so strong that doctors around the world test for their presence to identify patients likely to develop cancer. Presence micronuclei indicates that the cells can no longer properly repair broken DNA. This deficiency is considered to be an indication of an increased risk of developing cancer.
– In December 1998, Drs. Ray Tice and Graham Hook of Integrated Laboratory Systems in North Carolina have shown that cells exposed to cell phone radiation suffer genetic damage in the form micronuclei. In their studies, it seemed DNA and chromosomal damage in human white blood cells, when exposed to signals from all types of phones – analog, digital, and PCS. Injuries was shown even from signals occurring at a SAR level below the government's "safety" guideline.
– Using different methods, the aforementioned finding was confirmed by Dr. Joseph Roti Roti of Washington University in St. Louis in 2000. His studies showed that human blood cells exposed to radiation at wireless telephone frequencies actually develops genetic damage in the form of micronuclei. This finding has received a lot of notice because Dr. Roti Roti is a prominent scientist does hiw work under funding from Motorola Inc.
This has very serious consequences. If cell phone radiation promotes the formation of micronuclei in blood cells, and micronuclei are said to be "biological markers" for cancer, then based on these studies alone cell phone use could be said to increase the risk cancer.
The collapse of the blood-brain barrier
Blood-brain barrier is a special filter in the blood vessels of the brain that keeps dangerous chemicals from reaching sensitive brain tissue and causing DNA breaks and other damage.
– In 1994 and again in 2002, Dr. Leif Salford from Lund University in Stockholm, Sweden found in his studies that rats exposed to mobile phone radiation showed a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, as well as areas of shrunken, damaged neurons.
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The micronuclei studies of Tice, Hook and Roti Roti and the blood-brain results of Salford provide a two-step explanation of how cancer can be caused by cell phone radiation.
Step One: A leak or disruption of the blood-brain barrier will allow for carcinogenic chemicals in the blood (from tobacco, pesticides, air pollution, etc.) to seep into the brain and damage sensitive brain tissue that would otherwise be protected. These chemicals can break the DNA in the brain or cause other harm to reach those cells.
Step two: While some studies showed that mobile phone radiation by itself does not appear to break DNA, the micronuclei results suggest that they change the DNA repair mechanisms in brain cells. Micronuclei caused by a breakdown of the cell's ability to repair itself. If brain cells become unable to repair itself, then carcinogenesis – the creation of tumors – induced by chemical toxins can begin.
DNA means the genetic material of an organism and its different cells. Any damage that goes unrepaired affects the future generation of cells. The change has procreated and this mutation is seen as a possible cause of cancer.
Tumors in people who use mobile phones
Epidemiological studies conducted by different investigators using different methods shows some evidence of an increased risk of tumors in people using cell phones.
– In 1998, Dr. Ken Rothman of Eidemiology Resources, Inc. did in Newton, Massachusetts, a study showing that users of handheld mobile phones has more than twice as likely to die of cancer in the brain than do car phone users – If antennas are mounted on the car itself, far from users' heads.
– In 1998 showed Joshua Muscat, a researcher from the American Health Foundation, in his study a doubling the risk of developing neuro-epithelial tumors on the outside of the brain among cell phone users, especially on the side of the skull where cell phone antennas are held during calls.
– Muscat also showed in another study, people who used cell phones for six years or more has a 50 percent increased risk of developing acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor in the nerve that controls hearing and stretches from ear to brain. Acoustic neuromas can cause hearing loss and can be life threatening if untreated.
This was confirmed in a separate study in Stockholm, Sweden by Anders Ahlbom in 2004 and sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) which states that people who have used cell phones, this time at least 10 years have an increased risk of developing acoustic neuroma.
– In a study also requested by WHO, Researchers led by Dr. Lennart Hardell of Orebro Medical Center in Sweden examined 1,617 patients aged between 20 and 80 who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor between 1997 and 2000. They were then compared with healthy subjects. Those who used mobile phones for less than 10 years faced a 20% higher risk of developing cancer of the brain. But for those who used them for more than a decade, the risk was 80% higher. The study also found that the tumors were 2.5 times more likely to be same side of the head because the phone was held. The cancer of the auditory nerve, acoustic neuroma, showed a larger increase – 3.5 times greater risk.
Cell Phone RADIATION DOSE AND ANSWERS
All those studies showed that an increase in mobile phone radiation also increases the likelihood that the adverse effect occurs.
In Repacholi's study of mice, an increased risk of lymphoma significantly longer mice were exposed to radio waves.
In this research, work of Tice, Hook and Roti Roti, the risks of genetic damage as measured by micronuclei formation increased as the amount of radiation increased.
In the three epidemoiological investigations – two by Muscat and one by Hardell – the risk of tumors was greater in the areas of the brain near where the phone was held.
In Salford's study, the higher the exposure level rats were exposed, the more damage was evident in blood vessels in the brain and neurons.
THE BIG CANCER PICTURE
The test tube studies by Tice and Hook; mouse study Repacholoi and Selford, and epidemiological studies of Rothman, Muscat, and Hardell all agree that the suggest an increased risk of cancer among cell phone users. They fit together to form the beginning of a picture that everyone can see. They may not provide a full picture yet, but there are enough already in place to see that there is cause for genuine public health concern over mobile phone safety.
According to Dr. Carlo, "The big picture is clearly worrying. There is a clear risk that the radiation plume that originates from a cell phone antenna can cause cancer and other health problems. It is a risk as hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. It is a risk to be seen and understood by all who use mobile phones so they can take all appropriate and available steps to protect themselves – and especially to protect young children, whose skulls are still growing, and are most vulnerable to the risk of radiation. "
Several pieces COMING
– In 2000, a team of Sydney researchers published a scientific hypothesis about how cell phone radiation causes cancer. The report argues that radiation from mobile phones is causing constant stress to the body's cells, causing them to deliver "heat shock proteins (HSP)." The human cells sometimes release these proteins in response to injury or infection. Such a chronic activation of heat shock response affects the normal regulation of cells, which can result in cancer.
– In 2002, cell biologist Fiorenzo Marinelli and his team at the National Research Council in Bologna, Italy, leukemia cells exposed to continuous radio waves similar to mobile phones. The exposed cells had a higher incidence of death than the controls at first, but after further exposure, a strange thing happened: Instead of multiple cells door, they were exposed cells repeat furious over the control. Genes that trigger cells to multiply were turned on in a large proportion of the cells. Cancer, although short repulsed, had become more aggressive. Marinelli suspects the radiation may initially damage DNA and that this interferes with the biochemical signals in a manner which ultimately triggers the cells to multiply faster.
So why Mobile phones still around?
Now with all the growing evidence, mobile phone industry still maintain their position that cell phones are safe and have even begun marketing towards children. Governments have been slow to step in to warn people whether they are dangerous to use mobile phones. Fortunately, health officials and experts from several European countries, taking the first steps that have issued public warnings to parents urge caution around children and mobile phones
If the previous environmental issues with tobacco, asbestos and lead is any indication, it takes several years and even decades to accumulate the amount of evidence that would provide a concrete decision. In the case of cigarette smoking, it took two decades of study and 100 years for consumer use to gather enough data to meet research standards to demonstrate the need for the U.S. Surgeon General's warning on cigarette packages. Some Experts say that in case of mobile phones, it will not take as long as data comes in at a faster pace. But at present the authorities can only urge people to Caution.
Replication of research is another problem. A study coming out with a new conclusion usually do not get immediate acceptance in the scientific community or the wireless industry, unless a second Research Lab has been able to imitate the work and results. The industry has cleverly perpetuated their position by creating an illusion of responsible follow up by always requires more research.
When Dr. Salford published his study in 2003 showed that rat brain neurons were dying from exposure to mobile phone radiation, he warned that there could be similar effects in humans, which can eventually lead to degenerative diseases of the brain. His study was written off by the industry as a "novel" finding out that there would be copied.
But to meet the scientific standard of replication can be complicated. Salford says if studies are not strictly copied, provides an apples-to-apples comparison, there is wiggle room to dispute follow-up of results. Research studies require funding, and the wireless industry, according to Dr. Carlo's revelations, have been reluctant to put money in a more extensive research. As for governments, again many European governments are taking the responsible course by funding research, but the U.S. and Canada are lagging badly.
In 1999, CNN's Larry King once again featured a man who brought a multi-one million U.S. dollar court case against cell phone manufacturers. This time the man, a Maryland neurologist, He was diagnosed with brain cancer – again located on the side of his head where he held his cell phone. The suit was again dismissed, however, and the man died not long beyond.
According to WHO report, 0.1 billion people have died from tobacco use in the 20th century, and 10 times as many will die in the 21 century. No one is suggesting that mobile phones can cause so much damage, but do we really want to wait and find out?
Aims RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY
Unlike tobacco, the mobile phone has become an indispensable part of our lives as television and computer. It has allowed us to make a gigantic leap in the way we communicate with each other and have been widely credited with saving lives during emergencies. Mobile phones are here to stay, and perhaps rightly so.
The question is not how to stop people from using this ubiquitous device, but rather how to make it safer. The first step is always to admit there is a problem therefore, industry and government need to recognize the health risks associated with the current technology. In this way we can all find the right solutions we can more benefit from its use, without sacrificing our health and wellbeing.
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