Study Links Cellphone Use to Eye Cancer

For the first time, a scientific study has linked cell phones to human cancer. This research suggests that people who regularly use cellphones are three times more likely to develop eye cancer.

The study was conducted by a team from the University of Essen in Germany, and was published in the journal Epidemiology. It investigated a form of eye cancer called uveal melanoma, in which tumors form in the layer that makes up the iris and base of the retina.

Dr. Andreas Stang, who led the research, examined 118 people with the disease and found out how often they used cellphones. He compared this to a control group of 475 people who did not have the disease. To prevent bias, researchers were not told whether the person they were examining was healthy or had cancer. When they looked at the results, they discovered that the cancer victims had a much higher rate of cellphone use.

The watery make-up of the eye may allow radiation to be more readily absorbed there than it is by other parts of the body. When the phone receiver is held next to the ear, it also comes close to the eye. Other research has shown that cells called melanocytes, which are found in the uveal layer of the eye, started growing and dividing more rapidly when exposed to microwave radiation, which is emitted by cellphones.

Meanwhile, British cellphone suppliers are facing a billion dollar lawsuit brought by brain tumor victims in the U.S. Vodafone, the world?s biggest mobile phone company, faces cases that could cost them billions of dollars. These cases will be filed by lawyer Peter Angelos, who recently helped win 4.2 billion dollars, and earned nearly one billion dollars in fees, from of the damages won from the tobacco industry in a Maryland lawsuit. He also owns the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. He plans to launch two of the claims before March, and the remaining 7 or 8 within a year. Each claim will be filed against a mobile phone manufacturer, a network provider and a local “land line” telephone company.

John A. Pica, an attorney at Mr. Angelo?s law firm, said, “If these companies knew about the dangers of cellphone radiation, they should be punished and they should be punished dearly: not only for what they did to the public, but for the billions of pounds of profits they made.” He confirmed that Verizon Wireless, which is co-owned by Vodaphone in the U.K. and Bell Atlantic in the U.S., will be named in nearly all of the legal actions. Verizon is the biggest cellphone company in the U.S., with 26 million customers.

Companies have so far defended themselves successfully against claims that cellphones cause brain tumors. Up until now, research on the link between cellphones and cancer has been contradictory. A few studies have shown some correlation between brain tumors, but others have shown no link at all.

A 1995 lawsuit was dismissed by a Florida court without going to trial, due to what a judge cited as lack of evidence. This happened with the early lawsuits against the tobacco companies as well, until a breakthrough class action suit paved the way for extensive cash payments.

For the Sunday Times UK story, click here.

For a CNet article, click here.

For a Times UK article, ,2-59164,00.html,click here

This website sells Cellguard, a device believed to reduce cellphone radiation to the head by altering the shape of the signal with ceramic blocks to be placed in the earpiece and near the antenna. But because the danger is unknown, the effectiveness of the protection is also unknown. We urge you not only to use Cellguard, but, more importantly, CUT DOWN YOUR CELLPHONE USE until–and if–the instruments are proved to be safe. What you should NOT do is buy a Cellguard and continue with heavy use. DON’T TAKE THAT CHANCE. A Cellguard may help, but neither it nor any other shielding device is a safety guarantee.

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