The use of mobile phones over a long period of time can raise the risk for 
brain tumors, a new Swedish study said on Friday, contradicting the conclusions 
of other researchers. 
The Dutch Health Council, in an overview of research from around the world, 
last year found no evidence radiation from mobile phones and TV towers was 
harmful. A four-year British survey released in January showed no link between 
regular, long-term use of cell phones and the most common type of tumor. 
 
 
 ![Japanese women talk on their mobile phones in Tokyo March 24, 2006. The use of mobile phones over a long period of time can raise the risk of brain tumors, according to a Swedish study released on Friday, contradicting the conclusions of other researchers. [Reuters]](xin_3204030106451151649410.jpg)  Japanese women talk on their mobile phones in 
 Tokyo March 24, 2006. The use of mobile phones over a long period of time 
 can raise the risk of brain tumors, according to a Swedish study released 
 on Friday, contradicting the conclusions of other researchers. 
 [Reuters] | 
However, researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life said 
they looked at the mobile phone use of 905 people between the age of 20 and 80 
who had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and found a link. 
"A total 85 of these 905 cases were so-called high users of mobile phones, 
that is they began early to use mobile and, or wireless telephones and used them 
a lot," the study said. 
"The study also shows that the rise in risk is noticeable for tumors on the 
side of the head where the phone was said to be used," it added. 
Kjell Mild, who led the study, said the figures meant that heavy users of 
mobile phones, for instance of who make mobile phone calls for 2,000 hours or 
more in their life, had a 240 percent increased risk for a malignant tumor on 
the side of the head the phone is used. 
"The way to get the risk down is to use handsfree," he told Reuters. 
He said his study was the biggest yet to look at long-term users of the 
wireless phone, which has been around in Sweden in a portable form since 1984, 
longer than in many other countries.