New UC Berkeley study suggests cell phones sharply increase tumor risk

[wackadoo wabbit]

This has been suggested for years.

New UC Berkeley research draws a strong link between cell phone radiation and tumors, particularly in the brain.

Researchers took a comprehensive look at statistical findings from 46 different studies around the globe and found that the use of a cell phone for more than 1,000 hours, or about 17 minutes a day over a ten year period, increased the risk of tumors by 60 percent.

Researchers also pointed to findings that showed cell phone use for 10 or more years doubled the risk of brain tumors.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/new-uc-berkeley-study-draws-strong-link-between-cell-phone-use-and-cancer
(Sorry for the Fox link; it was the best "Cliffs Notes" version I found.


For the geeks among us (and, yes, I'm one), here's a link to the actual study:

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8079/htm#B7-ijerph-17-08079


Here's the Discussion from that study:

In sum, the updated comprehensive meta-analysis of case-control studies found significant evidence linking cellular phone use to increased tumor risk, especially among cell phone users with cumulative cell phone use of 1000 or more hours in their lifetime (which corresponds to about 17 min per day over 10 years), and especially among studies that employed high quality methods. Further quality prospective studies providing higher level of evidence than case-control studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Seventeen minutes per day, people! That's terrifying, at least to me.

[Hoyt]

1. Will people accept the science on this one, assuming this is confirmed?

[Happy Hoosier]

3. And do what?

People won’t stop using cell phones. I rarely put the phone next to my head. I either use airpods or the speaker.

[Hoyt]

4. I probably won't stop talking or limiting use. Fortunately, I hate talking on phones.

[Happy Hoosier]

5. Me too! NT

[CloudWatcher]

6. Indeed ... "assuming this is confirmed"

It's a meta-survey. Statistics is hard. Some studies showed an increased risk, some showed a decreased risk, others showed no correlation at all.

And even if there is a correlation, simple correlation vs. cause and effect are difficult to prove. I'm not saying this is nonsense, but it really does need to be confirmed before people lose sleep over it.

[wackadoo wabbit]

9. But, generally, the studies that show a decreased or no risk were funded by the cell phone companies

[Hekate]

2. It is for that reason I mostly use earbuds. That and the fact that my arm & hand go numb...

Yes, it is very very creepy. I read about this years ago and then nothing else since until your post.

[Tumbulu]

7. I use speaker phone on my cell

And have a “safe sleeve “ phone cover that reduces the effect.

But it is worrisome, all right.

[JudyM]

8. Weird it's being reported as new when it was published in November. Sobering info, though.

[smirkymonkey]

10. I don't know if this is just a coincidence, but a family friend of ours was just diagnosed with

Stage 4 Glioblastoma, which is not good. She's only in her early 50's. She has started chemo and we are all hoping for the best, but it is a very aggressive cancer. It's very sad.

[qazplm135]

11. Cell phone use has been

Ubiquitous for at least the last ten years, so has their been a corresponding explosion in brain tumors? You'd expect one if this were true. 17 minutes a day ain't much.