It’s not often I’ll refer to rag newspapers like the Sun from the UK, but it has
an interesting and important story I wanted to share with you.
MOBILE phones CAN
cause brain tumours, according to a landmark court ruling.
Italian
businessman Innocente Marcolini, 60, fell ill after using a handset at work for
up to six hours every day for 12 years. Now Italy’s
Supreme Court in Rome
has blamed his phone. Experts have predicted a flood of legal actions from
victims. Stricken Mr Marcolini last night warned: “People must be told
the risks.”
He was diagnosed
with a brain tumour after complaining of head and chin pains.
And yesterday his
country’s Supreme Court stated there was a “causal link” between his heavy
phone use and the growth. British scientists have claimed there is
insufficient evidence to prove any link to mobiles. But after the Rome court ruling, Mr
Marcolini said: “This is significant for very many people. I wanted this
problem to become public because many people still do not know the risks.
“I was on the phone, usually the mobile, for at least five or six hours
every day at work. I wanted it recognised that there was a link between my
illness and the use of mobile and cordless phones. “Parents need to know
their children are at risk of this illness.”
Respected
oncologist and professor of environmental mutagenesis Angelo Gino Levis gave
evidence for Mr Marcolini — along with neurosurgeon Dr Giuseppe Grasso.
They said electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile and cordless phones
can damage cells, making tumours more likely. Prof Levis told The Sun: “The
court decision is extremely important. It finally officially recognises the
link. “It’ll open not a road but a motorway to legal actions by victims.
We’re considering a class action. “Tumours due to radiation may not
appear for 15 years, so three to five-year studies don’t find them.
“We’ll only realise in years to come the damage phones can cause
children.” Mr Marcolini’s tumour was discovered in the trigeminal nerve — close
to where the phone touched his head. It is benign but threatened to kill him as
it spread to the carotid artery, the major vessel carrying blood to his brain.
His face was left
paralysed and he takes daily morphine for pain. Alasdair Philips of
Powerwatch, which campaigns for more research on mobile use, said: “This is an
interesting case and proves the need for more studies. “People should
limit mobile and cordless use until we know more.” The World Health
Organisation urged limits on mobile use last year, calling them a Class B
carcinogen. But a spokesman for Britain’s
Health Protection Agency said: “The scientific consensus is that mobile phones
do not cause cancer.” International radiation biology expert Michael
Repacholi said: “Studies show no evidence of cancer. But if you are worried,
use a headset, hands-free or loudspeaker.” Media lawyer Mark Stephens
said the verdict could “open the floodgates” — even though there is no direct
obligation on British courts to follow the Italians’ lead. He said: “It
is possible people will begin legal action here, but I think the chances of
success are less. I think they’ll join any class action in Italy.”
Jury out for last
12yrs on EMF radiation from mobile phones:
May 2000:
Government’s Stewart Report warns kids to avoid mobiles due to unknown effects
of microwave radiation.
October 2005:
British Journal of Cancer says no substantial risk of brain tumours in first
ten years of mobile use.
October 2007: Britain’s
Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme finds no link to ill
health.
May 2011: Council
of Europe warns mobiles should be banned from
classrooms over “potentially harmful” effects.
June 2012: World
Health Organisation says “some” cancer risk.
