"The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear," the author of the Book of Isaiah says in this Sunday's first reading. Maybe that ear should not be listening to a cell phone, suggests a new study. The study raises doubts about the wireless industry's assurances that cell phones do not lead to an increased risk of brain tumors.

A group called the International EMF Collaborative has issued a report warning that cell phones may be more dangerous than health authorities have led users to believe. The report, titled "Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern," said the latest research indicates that regular use of cell phones can result in a "significant" risk of brain tumors. It also said kids are at greater risk than adults because their still-developing brain cells are more vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation.

"Cell phones are causing brain tumors," said the lead author of the report. "Industry-backed studies try to hide that fact. But if you read them carefully, you can see there are risks." More than 40 scientists and officials from 14 countries have publicly endorsed the report's findings.

The potential risks of cell-phone use have been debated for years. A number of reputable organizations, including the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute, said there's no conclusive evidence that using a cell phone is harmful to your health, although both organizations acknowledge "gaps" in the research.

CTIA: The Wireless Association, a U.S. industry group, insists that cell phones pose no danger to users. But a number of consumer advocates, along with health officials around the world, say the jury's still out. Many nations that participated in the new study released individual reports with their own findings.

One conclusion consistent with nearly every report is that there is indeed a higher risk of brain tumors for people who use a cell phone for at least 10 years and who typically hold the device on the same side of their head. For Morgan that finding alone is sufficient to raise a red flag. "That means cell phones are causing brain tumors,"" he said. "End of story."

Source: A column by David Lazarus for the Los Angeles Times