The head of a leading cancer research institute has reignited the controversy over the health risks of using mobile phones by sending a warning to staff that they should limit the use of the devices because of the risk of cancer.Dr Ronald Herberman’s alert to 3,000 staff at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is believed to be the first of its kind from the director of a leading research centre. His call for action stands in contrast to the existing advice from many health authorities, which have pointed out that evidence of the dangers of mobile phone use is inconclusive.In a memo posted to staff, Herberman admits that the evidence is still controversial and no hard conclusions can be reached, but he says he has become convinced that there is sufficient information “to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cellphone use”. He has had his memo peer-reviewed by an international panel of more than 20 experts from countries including the US, Canada and France.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jul/25/mobilephones.healthMobile phones do fry your brain, warns cancer specialist [AP]
The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don’t find a link between increased tumours and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the US Food and Drug Administration.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10523331
http://www.thestate.com/360/story/469463.html
http://businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D923QJSG0.htm
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/23/cancer.cell.phones.ap/Warning on mobile phone risk ‘alarmist’
The safety of mobile phones has again been called into question after a US cancer expert sent 3000 staff a memo urging them to limit the length of calls and to prevent children using the devices “except for emergencies”.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24074106-5013404,00.html