Alarm bells ringing? Cellphones linked to brain tumour

SCARY TALK: But this is not the first time that we're being warned against the ill-effects of cell phones.

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New Delhi: Those of you who talk for long hours on the cell phone maybe at a risk of developing brain tumour, says the latest study conducted by Australian neurosurgeon.

But this is not the first time that we're being warned against the ill-effects of cell phones. But is it too premature to come up with such conclusive studies?

Apollo neurologist Dr Puspendra N Renjen says, “What evidence do we have to say that the waves that a cell phone is generating is going to cause a tumour? For that, we need to look into the patho-physiology of the causation of a tumour.”

There have been numerous studies about how the radiation from cell phones can reduce the sperm count if kept in your pocket, how it can hamper your sleep, how it can lead to memory loss and so on and so forth.

However, the WHO clearly states that there are gaps in knowledge and only further research over a period of years will help to evaluate the health risks involved.

“If you are using cell phones and then trying to concentrate on something else, there obviously there will be a loss of concentration,” says Renjen.

Nonetheless amidst all this confusion, the least one can do is take certain precautions:

• Are far as possible, use a landline to a mobile or a cordless.
• Use the cell phone on speaker-phone mode.
• Minimise the use of Blue-tooth devices
• Minimise the amount of time spent on cell phones.
• Restrict the use of mobile phones by children.