Children who use mobile phones are five times as likely to develop a type of brain tumour than their peers, a new study has found.

The research, conducted by a team from the University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden, also revealed that the earlier a person uses a mobile, the higher their risk of getting a tumour.

Professor Lennart Hardell said the findings indicate that children are at risk of radiation from mobiles because their heads are smaller and skulls are thinner than those of adults, allowing rays to penetrate deeper into their brains. The danger is further compounded by the fact that their brains and nervous systems are still developing.

Prof Hardell said that people who started using a mobile before the age of 20 had a “more than five-fold increase” in glioma – a type of cancer of the glial cells, which support the central nervous system.

People who use mobile phones before they turn 20 also increase their chances of getting an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumour that can cause deafness, by five times the normal rate.

While some experts disagree with the findings, saying that mobile phones haven’t been around long enough for sufficient data to be collected, there have been calls for further studies to look into the link. 

Reduce your child’s risk:

• Children under 12 should only use mobiles in emergencies
• Teens should use hands-free devices when talking
• Texting should be kept to a minimum

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