The Cancer Association of South Africa plans to update its advice on cell phone use. The following is an excerpt from its current page:
Because cell phones are held near the head when in use, the main concern has been whether they might cause or contribute to tumours in this area, including:
- Malignant (cancerous) brain tumours such as gliomas
- Non-cancerous tumours of the brain such as meningiomas
- Non-cancerous tumours of the nerve connecting the brain to the ear (acoustic neuromas)
- Non-cancerous tumours of the salivary glands
CANSA’s Advice:
We acknowledge the importance of cellphones in daily life, especially in emergencies and recommend the following precautions:
- Limit the number and duration of calls
- Use text messages when possible
- Switch sides of the head when the call is long
- Use hands-free kits or speaker phone mode to keep the phone at a distance from the head
- Instruct children and teenagers to limit calls to emergencies only as they are more vulnerable to electro-magnetic radiation
