Neurosurgeon Warns that Cell Phones are Worse than Smoking

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

01 Apr 2008 08:16 AM

The debate about whether or not cell phone use increases your risk of cancer has been going on for quite some time. Studies linking cell phone use to cancer are completed, only to be countered with studies that say that there is no risk at all. But here is one report that warrants taking notice. One of the top neurosurgeons in the world is urging people to take precautions with cell phone use, saying that the cell phone use creates a bigger risk for cancer than does smoking.

Dr. Vini Khurana, a neurosurgeon who has won 14 awards over the past two decades has released a study that claims that there is a large increase of risk for brain cancer by people who use cell phones, and that the cell phone could one day be responsible for more deaths from cancer than cigarettes or exposure to asbestos.

There are an estimated 3 billion cell phone users out there, according to Dr. Khurana. In comparison, only about 1 billion people smoke. Since many types of brain cancer can take decades before they are revealed, Dr. Khurana feels that we may be looking at a world wide cancer epidemic just waiting for those who constantly use a cell phone. He believes that if you use a cell phone for ten years or more, you double your risk for brain cancer.

Dr. Khurana is calling on the mobile phone industry to take action to protect people, through the greater development of hands=free technology to keep the cell phones physically away from people�s heads, and using shielding to keep harmful radiation from escaping.

Here are my suggestions for reducing your cancer risk with cell phone usage:

• When given a choice, use a landline phone instead of a cell phone
• Use a headset or other hands-free technology to keep the phone away from your head
• Do not allow children to use a cell phone
• Reduce the amount of time you spend on your cell phone by eliminately phone time or cell phone activities that aren�t necessary. View the phone as a tool rather than a toy.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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