One More Time: Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?

By Geoff Duncan August 25, 2009

It’s one of those endless debates that’s starting to border on myth…or urban legend, depending who you believe: does using a cell phone increase one’s risk of cancer, particularly tumors in the ear or brain? Many studies have claimed to find no link between cell phone use and increased risk of cancer, but some others claim a link or that the naysayer’s findings aren’t conclusive. Today, the International EMF Collaborative issued a new report (available as PDFs in US Letter and A4 format) that comes down squarely on cell-phones-cause-cancer side of the debate, and offers 15 reasons to be concerned, and claims children in particular are more at-risk for developing brain tumors from cell phone use.

“Exposure to cellphone radiation is the largest human health experiment ever undertaken, without informed consent, and has some 4 billion participants enrolled,” said lead author and member of the Bioelectromagnetics Society Lloyd Morgan, in a statement. “Science has shown increased risk of brain tumors from use of cellphones, as well as increased risk of eye cancer, salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia. The public must be informed.”

The report is particularly critical of the 13-nation Interphone study, funded by the telecommunications industry, that launched in 1999. The study was intended to evaluate the risk of tumors from cell phone use but the International EMF Collaborative claims the results published to date show a systemic skew by excluding a large number of people, including children and young adults, users of cordless phones, folks too ill with brain tumors to be interviewed, and folks with particular types of brain tumors. The report also criticizes for the Interphone report for not making researchers available so the study’s methodology can be examined.

The report recommends further research into the health impacts of cell phone use, and goes even further in urging certain establishments be kept as free of wireless device radiation as possible: those locations would include schools, day cares, retirement homes, and health care facilities.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

Best foldable phone deals: Get the Motorola Razer for $500 and more

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 display.

If you’re looking for awesome phone deals, we’ve got some great early Memorial Day foldable phone deals rounded up here. With so many retailers launching early sales, it can be hard to know where to begin. To help you out, we’ve narrowed things down so you can easily find all the best folding phones for less than you’d ordinarily pay. Foldable phones are becoming increasingly more affordable, so the list below has a wide range of options, from cheaper models to more premium flagship models. Whatever you choose, you gain a distinctive looking phone with some great features. It's always great to have a large screen that starts out much smaller in your pocket. Take a look below at what we’ve picked out in the foldable phone Memorial Day sales.
Best foldable phone Memorial Day deals

Buying one of the best phones is a big deal. It’s likely to be the main piece of tech you use throughout the day so you want to make the right decision for your needs. When it comes to folding phones, you get a cooler looking design than the typical smartphone design aka the candy-bar look. It feels a little futuristic and a little daring. Ultimately, it's going to stand out from the crowd. A folding phone often means additional benefits like an extra screen or larger screen too, all while still easily fitting in your pocket. In the past, folding phones could be pretty expensive but we’re seeing a more diverse range these days with some much more affordable options around. Such variety is great to see for anyone keen to try something different. Depending on the model you go for, you’ll probably pay roughly the same amount as you would with a regular looking smartphone. It’s the perfect chance to buy something a little different from the crowd. Two major players are the premium and high-end Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 along with the latest Motorola Razr. Here are the best early foldable phone Memorial Day deals currently going on.

Mobile

Arc Search, one of the best iPhone apps right now, just got even better

Arc Search's Call Arc feature.

One of our favorite iPhone browser apps has just introduced an interesting new feature. Arc Search’s new "Call Arc" tool functions similarly to making a phone call on your iPhone 15 Pro or other iPhone. Instead of speaking to someone on the other end of the line, though, you ask Arc to answer your queries. The outcome is fresh and unique, and it actually works really well.

Before its latest software update, Arc Search already offered a voice search feature. The AI-powered Call Arc is different and designed for people on the go who are looking for quick answers to short questions.

Mobile

5 phones you should buy instead of the OnePlus 12

A person holding the OnePlus 12.

The OnePlus 12 is OnePlus' latest smartphone, and it's a true return to form for the "flagship killer." It's big and beautiful, with a distinctive design that leans away from the default "big glass slab" you might be tiring of. It's powerful, too, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, two-day battery life, and some of the fastest charging speeds you'll find on a phone on the U.S. market. It's easily one of the best phones you can buy, with a starting price of $800.

But is it the best? It might not be, depending on what you're actually looking for. There are a number of smartphones with similar levels of power, beauty, and features — and varying reasons why you'd pick them over OnePlus' current flagship.