High mobile use puts us at risk of brain tumours

NEW DELHI: India could see several cases of brain tumour over the next two-to-three years due to constant use of mobile phones say neurologists, as they debate a recent Australian study that says a correlation does exist between the two.

Australian neurosurgeon Dr Vini Khurana’s study predicts that the fallout of heavy mobile phone use would be visible soon as the nation’s love affair with mobile phone climbs to dizzying heights.

In his research, Khurana says heavy usage of cell phones for a period of 10 years or more doubles the chances of brain tumour. It also, he adds, has larger public health ramification than asbestos and smoking.

Union health minister Dr Anbumani Ramdoss has called for a study to be conducted to study the ill-effects of mobile phones.

Cellphones’ radiation can heat up the side of the head or potentially thermoelectrically interact with the brain, while bluetooth devices and unshielded headsets convert the user’s head into self-harming antenna, Dr Khurana says, based on his study. Childeren are at a greater risk because they possess a thinner skull in comparison to adults.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajeev Ranjan, a neurology expert at Sir Gangaram Hospital, says, “EMR rays in general cause irritation, concentration lapses and in many cases even proliferation of cells which cause cancer.” Particularly at risk, he says, are those with pacemakers which the EMR can interfere with.

Dr Anshu Rohatgi, another Delhi neurologist, says, “Electro magnetic  radiations, in general, affect the DNA  and cause problems in cell recovery and cell growth.”

As regards Dr Khurana’s research, he says, “The research is not totally proven till now but a UK study did say that cellphone usage may cause acoustic-neuroma which is a non-cancerous tumor that develops on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.”

The UK study says no solid proof exists of the fact that cellphones cause brain cancer but a Swedish study in 2006 claimed that if you spend many years using your cellphone for at least an hour a day, the risk of developing a brain tumor is 240 percent higher than a person who never uses one.

Researchers found that even the location of the tumour tends to be on the side of the head where the phone is used.

Meanwhile, TV Ramachandran, director general of Cellular Operator Association of India, refutes the study. “Dr Vini Khurana is first a neurosurgeon and not a researcher and so much credibility cannot be attached to his research,” Ramchandran said

“Organisations like WHO conducted a study on the issue which proved that cellphones do not cause any greater chances of brain tumour,” he adds The electromagnetic rays radiated by cell phones cannot harm anyone as “they are non-ionising and in such small doses that no harm can be caused by them.”

According to Ramchandran, “Telecom companies are unnecessarily being dragged and it’s the word of one individual over the WHO and other health organisations.”
Dr Khurana has countered saying that the WHO fact-sheet was irrelevant in this instance because most of the worrisome data has been surfacing in the last 12-24 months.

A study, funded by the telecom companies on the health effects of cellphone use, is expected to be out in a few weeks