Mobile-cancer link firmed

The results of a ten-year research project by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) have shown that mobile phone radiation increased cancer rates in animals.

The program was undertaken to test the idea that mobile phone radiation did not cause health problems. The reverse was, in fact, found.

The scientists exposed rats to radiation from GSM and CDMA mobile phones over a two-year period. The animals developed increased rates of glioma brain tumours and schwannoma heart tumours. These findings are consistent with epidemiological studies on humans.

The results are significant because the IARC classified wireless radiation as a class 2B ('possible') carcinogen, rather than class 2A ('probable') carcinogen, because it considered there was a lack of animal studies showing a link between cancer and radiation. This study changes that situation.

The NTP is expected to release the results of its experiment and potential warning to the public, according to Dr Louis Slesin, who broke the story.

You can read his report here.