There's a popular notion that using mobile phones causes Cancer...

However, in one of the latest and most comprehensive studies, a team of researchers from the Danish Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen have concluded that neither short nor long term usage of mobile phones is linked to a greater risk of tumors of the brain or nervous system, of the salivary gland or eyes, of Leukaemia or Cancer (overall).

Led by Joachim Schuz, the Danish team reportedly studied over 420,000 mobile phone users; largely people who have been using mobile phones from as far back as 1982 and 1995, to find around 14,249 Cancer cases amongst these, a number significantly lower than what was expected by the researchers.

According to John Boice, Fellow Researcher and Cancer Epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University, the team were not able to identify any increased risks of any Cancers that could be related to the use of cellular phones. Boice said that the type of radiation involved in cell phones is not known to damage cells or DNA, and hence, there's no biological mechanism to suggest that even this type of exposure could cause Cancer or DNA damage.

Funded by the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Strategic Research Council, the study represents the latest evidence endorsing the safety of cellular phones.

About the study, Professor Tricia McKinney from the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds, said that the results are important as data from mobile phone company records has been analysed, instead of relying on that derived from mobile phone users. The professor added that the fact that the study involved a large number of subscribers inspires a degree of confidence in the results.

A spokesperson for a wireless industry group said that the study goes to reinforce the prevailing consensus among leading health organizations around the world that wireless phones do not pose a health hazard.

However, results notwithstanding, the Danish researchers have acknowledged some of their limitations. For instance, Schuz said they could not differentiate between frequent and not so frequent cell phone users in their study.

Besides, experts still do advise young people to limit their mobile phone use - for health reasons!