Risk free phones

Mobile ‘phones are not associated with an increased risk of the most common type of brain tumour, finds the first UK study, led by the

, of the relationship between mobile ‘phone use and risk of glioma.

The four-year study by the universities of Leeds, Nottingham and Manchester and the Institute of Cancer Research, London found those who had regularly used a mobile ‘phone were not at a greater overall risk of developing this type of tumour.

According to a statement, there was no relationship for risk of glioma and time since first use of a mobile ‘phone, lifetime years of use and cumulative number of calls and hours of use. Risk was not associated with ‘phone use in rural areas which was found to be associated with an increased risk in an earlier Swedish study.

A significantly increased risk was found for tumours which developed on the same side of the head as the ‘phone was reported to have been held but this was mirrored by a decrease in the risk on the opposite side of the head making it difficult to interpret as a real effect.