More convincing evidence from Lennart Hardell and colleagues at the University of Orebro (Sweden) ...

Over a thousand people diagnosed with benign brain tumours between 1997 and 2003 and over two thousand control subjects were quizzed on their usage of mobile and cordless telephones.

Using an analogue mobile phone (the first type of mobile phone made) for longer than one year had increased the risk of developing an acoustic neuroma brain tumour* threefold. More than fifteen years use had nearly quadrupled that risk

Using a GSM mobile phone (the second type made) for just 64 hours across 5-10 years had increased that risk by a half

Using a cordless telephone for 98 hours across five years (e.g. 98 minutes a month or three minutes a day) had also increased that risk by a half. Using a cordless telephone at this level for a further five years had doubled it

The risk of developing an acoustic neuroma did not appear to have continued to increase after ten years usage

This was one of the first studies able to obtain something approaching a definitive result. In most brain cancers, at least ten years exposure is required before symptoms show leading to diagnosis of a tumour. Even so, it is still early days for GSM phones and DECT cordless phones.

Further studies will be needed in another five and ten years time.

* a rare, usually benign tumour which forms on the hearing and    balance nerves in the internal auditory canal