The largest-ever international study of mobile phone safety has concluded the devices do not raise the risk of brain cancer – except possibly a slight increase in tumours among the most intensive users.
The telecoms industry, which contributed $6m (€5m, £4m) to the $24m Interphone study through an “arm's length” funding mechanism, said the findings, published yesterday, supported its view that mobile phones were safe. But the industry said it was prepared to support more research.
Critics said the study used flawed methodology that concealed a more worrying increase in glioma, the most deadly brain tumour, in the heaviest mobile users – those who have used mobile phones for more than 1,640 hours. WiredChild, a UK pressure group, said the implications for children – not included in the Interphone study – were serious.