London (England) - Mobile phone usage can dramatically increase the risk of cancer in children and young adults.   According to a new study by Professor Lennart Hardell from the University Hospital in Orebo Sweden, mobile phone users younger than 20 years old had a five-fold increase in particular types of cancer.

Hardell suspects that the thinner and still developing skulls of the children make them more susceptible to electromagnetic radiation.  He recommends children under 12-years-old only use mobile phones in emergencies.  Teenagers, according to Hardell, should only use mobile phones with hands-free sets or while text messaging.

Children under the age of 20 were five times more likely to contract brain cancer, specifically glioma, and cancer of the auditory nerve.  People who started using cell phones in their 20s were twice as likely to contract the same cancer, claims Hardell.  Interestingly enough, cordless phone users showed similar risks and were four times more likely to contract cancer.

This data contradicts a study done last year in Denmark and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.  420,000 people were followed in that study which showed that mobile phone users were no more likely than anyone else to suffer cancer.

How many people in this study?

Sep 22, 2008 19:00     

You mention the number for last year's study, but what is it for this one?
[TR] report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +6

Coincidental

Sep 22, 2008 19:40     

What are the other common habits of kids who use cell phones? They are likely privileged. Maybe they eat more fast food. Maybe they are in more urban areas. Breath in more smog. Drink more bottled water. Who knows? This is not a controlled study.
Aguada99 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

it does, it doesn't, it does..

Sep 22, 2008 19:47     

I read studies that it does cause cancer yet another study says it doesn't and yet another one says it does. It keeps going back and forth but when will they will for sure? It makes me wonder if they are just using the data to support their point of view no matter what the data really meant.
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Cordless Phones

Sep 23, 2008 15:15     

Is everybody forgetting Cordless phones in the home, they are transmitting 24/7 even if you are not making a call and operate at similar frequencies to mobiles. In Europe they are much more concerned and are marking low radiation cordless phones to at least give people a choice until positive proof one way or another is produced I know I don’t want the equivalent of a phone mast in my home.
Claudia Edwards report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Who was the study commissioned by?

Sep 24, 2008 00:06     

Who was the study commissioned by? It all depends on the point of view from the research, otherwise results will be skewed in favor of whoever is sponsoring the study. While i won't take this study seriously, it does worry me.
Gamers-Union.net report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1