Can Cellphone Usage Increase the Risk of Cancer?

The average American checks his or her cellphone a whopping 46 times per day, according to Deloitte. Cellphones play an important role in modern-day living, allowing us to connect with friends and family, update our social media status, run apps, play games and more. While most people view cellphones as being completely harmless, a new study has linked prolonged usage to an increased risk of bran cancer.

The study, conducted by researchers from the U.S. National Toxicology Program, involved exposing rats to the same type of  radiation that's found in cellphones. The preliminary report revealed that male rats, when exposed to this type of radiation, were more likely to develop brain and heart cancer.

The rats used in this study were placed into groups of 90 before being exposed to one of two different types of radiation: GSM and CDMA. AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint all use these radiation types for their mobile communications. The lab rats were exposed to 10-minute cycles of radiation for 18 hours per day, receiving a total of nine hours of radiation exposure.

While this study involved both male and female rats, researchers only discovered an increased risk of cancer in male rats. So, does this mean that only women are susceptible to cancer caused by cellphone usage? Not necessarily, as researchers were reluctant to make any definitive statements regarding the link between cellphone usage and cancer, let alone gender-specific details.

"While this study adds significantly to the evidence that cell phone signals could potentially impact human health, it does not actually tell us how certain scenarios of cell phone use change our long-term risks of getting cancer," said Otis W. Brawley, M.D., American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer, in a response.

Other studies have also suggested that prolonged and/or excessive cellphone usage may increase the risk of cancer. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you should stop using your cellphone just yet. There's still much we don't know about cellphones and the way in which they affect our health. Doctors, however, are recommending individuals who are concerned about the potential negative health effects of cellphone usage to reduce their usage and to switch to a hands-free method of operation. The farther the cellphone is away from your head, the less the effects -- at least that's the general belief.