Study: cell phone use affects brain activity

In a study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association on Wednesday, researchers found that when the cell phones were turned on, there were significant increases in the brain glucose metabolism closest to the phone antenna.

This indicated that the brain is sensitive to the phone's radiation emissions.

It is still unknown how this activity will affect people's overall health, but the discovery that phones have a measurable impact on brain activity is significant, said the researchers.

"The dramatic worldwide increase in use of cellular telephones has prompted concerns regarding potential harmful effects of exposure to radio frequency-modulated electromagnetic fields," said the study.

The study reignited a years-long controversy over the health effects of cell phone use -- though it urged further studies to determine whether the increased brain activity by cell phones has any other health effects. Kazinform refers to Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com