Cellphone Use Can Lead To Brain Cancer For Men?

A new rat study showed a possible connection once more between cellphone use and cancer. 

While the study is not yet completed, advocates pushing for more researcher already found that the partial finding already suggests that cellphone radiation can lead to brain and heart tumors, among males. For females, the same was not found. 

Interestingly, among the female rats, those who developed rumors even outlived those who did not. 

The US National Toxicology Program found these findings intriguing. The program, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, is currently analyzing the findings. The associate director of the program, John Bucher, claimed these partial finding are so significant that they should be released immediately. 

"We felt it was important to get that word out," Bucher shared to the reporters on a telephone briefing, as reported by NBC News. "Overall, we feel that the tumors are likely to be related to the exposures."

While the initial findings are important and alarming, the study did not show whether humans are at any risk when using cellphones. The findings also did not say if using headsets or keeping a distance from the cellphones when using these can help avoid the radiation. 

Despite these limitations, Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Scoeity, claimed that the findings make good science and should be given attention. 

"The findings are unexpected; we wouldn't reasonably expect non-ionizing radiation to cause these tumors," he said.  "This is a striking example of why serious study is so important in evaluating cancer risk. It's interesting to note that early studies on the link between lung cancer and smoking had similar resistance, since theoretical arguments at the time suggested that there could not be a link," he added.

Bucher might said the findings are worth releasing as early as now, but this should not yet be a cause of alarm. He said brain tumors remain rare up to now. There has not been an increase in brain tumor rates since the 1990s, when cellphones started to be in the rage. "It is very reassuring in fact that there has been no dramatic increase. It may well be that current cellphone use is safe," Bucher said.