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SYDNEY, Jul 20, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- An Australian study concludes long-term cell phone use may not carry the dangers experts first thought.
In January 2002, researchers at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital embarked on a world-first study, using live human brain cells to test whether long-term mobile phone use could cause cancer.
The research used an electromagnetic device to simulate the impact of chronic, intermittent exposure of the brain to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones over a sustained period.
The Sydney Sun-Herald said Sunday the trial was designed to test a 2001 St. Vincent's hypothesis that suggested mobile phone radiation could cause cancer among long-term users.
But contrary to that original study, the results showed "the effect of GSM RF energy on gene transcription in human astrocytes (nerve tissue) is minimal."
This year, the worldwide number of cellular phone users is expected to exceed one billion.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
