Mobile phones give you cancer

LAST WEEK, researchers decided using a mobile phone a lot doesn't give you brain cancer.

This week a different bunch reckons that over-using your phone could give you cancer of the salivary gland instead.

Some 1800 Israelis, some with and some yet to get the condition, were studied and those who used a mobile phone against one side of the head for several hours a day were 50 per cent more likely to develop a salivary gland tumour.

Lead researcher Dr Siegal Sadetzki, reckons Isaelis are bigger chatterboxes than most of the rest of us.

"Compared to other studies, the amount of exposure to radiofrequency radiation we saw here was much higher," she said. "If you like, you're seeing what could happen elsewhere 'speeded-up' in Israel."

Heavy users in rural areas had an even higher risk that those in cities, the researchers found, deciding that mobile phones struggling to get a signal have to work harder so emit more radiation.

But Dr Sadetzki said more research is needed, and warned against running about like Corporal Jones shouting "Don't panic, don't panic!"

"We're nae doomed yet," Private Frazier might say.

The research is published in The American Journal of Epidemiology. µ