Mobile phone use has significantly increased in children ages seven to 19, as concerns over the risk of brain cancer tumors remain prevalent. A study conducted by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute found that children in this age group who use cell phones have the same risk of developing brain cancer as those who do not have mobile phones.
Concerns remain over the impact of cell phone usage on the brains of both children and adults. Kids are arguably more at risk, because their nervous systems are still developing. According to Medical News Today, there is also concern that electromagnetic waves associated with the phones have the potential to penetrate further through the smaller heads of children.
352 brain cancer patients from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland participated in the study between 2004 and 2008. Their cell phone usage was tracked and partially confirmed with mobile phone companies. Researchers also compared records of patients who did not use cell phones.
According to Medical News Today, 73 percent of the studied brain cancer patients reportedly used a cell phone at least 20 times prior to their diagnosis. 72.1 percent of the healthy control group also reported the same cell phone usage rate. The data collected between the two groups was not different enough to conclude that mobile phones directly influence brain tumor development.
