2008-07-24 10:19:24 -

It's been rumored for years: Cell phones cause cancer. European cancer experts have been generating damning research on the subject for months, but now the first U.S. cancer center director has gone on record with a firm warning. 'I am convinced that there are sufficient data' to issue a warning on cell phone use, says Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of

the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers.

Other countries have recommended limits on cell phone exposure, and Toronto public health officials have advised young people to limit their use. A child's developing organs "are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure," Dr. Herberman warns.

In clear recognition of the potentially catastrophic disease effects of cell phone use, the British government is launching a massive study. They hope to determine - Does long-term use of cell phones cause brain cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease?

Worldwide, 3.3 billion cell phones were in use in 2007 - enough for about half the world's people. 90% of the global population should have cellular coverage by 2010.

A person's exposure level depends on such things as the number and length of calls, amount of cell traffic at the time of a call, distance to the nearest cell tower, and size of the handset.

The phone's internal antenna is the main source of radiation. Hold the phone to your head and you're radiating your ear, brain, mouth and neck. Move the antenna away from your body and you reduce radiation exposure. That's why many health experts recommend using a hands-free set, with the phone well away from your ear.

Tel Aviv University cancer expert Dr. Siegal Sadetzki found that people who use a cell phone for hours a day are 50% more likely to develop oral cancer than those who don't use such phones at all. His study was conducted on Israelis, who were among the first to widely adopt mobile phone technology and are among its heaviest users.

In 2002, Dariusz Leszczynski at Helsinki's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority reported that one hour of exposure to mobile phone radiation caused cultured human cells to shrink. He said that reaction, which normally only happens when a cell is damaged, could allow harmful substances to enter the brain from the bloodstream. His research showed that mobile phone radiation can affect cells without heating them.

Three European studies in 2006 found an increased risk of glioma (brain tumors, like Senator Ted Kennedy's) in people who used cell phones for 10 years or more. Two of the studies reported a correlation between tumor location and the side of the head where people held their phones. The other study suggested a higher risk in people who began using the phones before age 20. All three studies were sanctioned by the World Health Organization, giving them added weight.

This year, neurologist and cancer expert Dr. Vini Khurana reported that 10-year cell phone use can double the risk of brain cancer. France and Germany have officially warned their citizens of the dangers of cell phones, with a special caution for children.

The world's biggest manufacturer of cell phones is Nokia. Other major suppliers include Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and LG. Add to those dozens of other players, including Apple, UTSarcom, Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, CECT, HTC, Fujitsu, Kyocera, Mitsubishi Electric, RIM, Sagem, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens and more.

WebTalkerPR is providing helpful links related to cell phones, cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's at www.CellPhoneCancer411.com, www.CellPhoneCancer101.com and www.CellPhoneCancerAnswers.com. To make sure you aren't developing oral cancer, ask your dentist for a fast and pain-free ViziLite Plus 'glow-stick' exam.