Articles

Researcher sees cancer risk from mobiles
The Associated Press Published:
July 24, 2008

PITTSBURGH: The head of a prominent cancer research institute has issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff: Limit cellphone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, issued Wednesday, is contrary to numerous studies that have not found a link between brain cancer and cellphone use and a lack of official concern from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman said he was basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He said that it took too long to get answers from science and that he believed people should take action now, especially in regard to children.

He said in a memo to about 3,000 faculty and staff that children should use cellphones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing. Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a headset.

Authorities in Britain, France and India have urged caution on cellphone use by children.

Herberman pointed to a huge, ongoing research project known as Interphone, involving scientists in 13 countries, mostly in Europe.