Mobile phones can cause brain tumors, court rules

　　意大利最高法院近日判定，称60岁的商人马可里尼所患脑瘤与其长期使用手机有一定关联。这一判定有可能会引来大量与手机使用相关的疾病诉讼案件。据悉，马可里尼每天工作时用手机的时间长达6小时，并且这样持续了12年。他的脑瘤位于三叉神经处，正好是手机经常与头部接触到区域。脑瘤扩大到颈动脉后，马可里尼的面部完全瘫痪，每天还要用吗啡止痛。英国科学家称并没有足够的证据证明脑瘤与手机使用有关。不过，英国著名的肿瘤学专家和神经科专家均表示，手机和无绳电话释放出的电磁辐射能破坏细胞，会增加患肿瘤的风险。世界卫生组织也于去年呼吁限制手机的使用，并将其归为B级致癌物。国际辐射生物专家表示，目前尚无研究表明手机使用会致癌，不过建议在日常使用中多用耳机、免提或外放等设备。

　　A landmark court case has ruled there is a link between using a mobile phone and brain tumors, paving the way for a flood of legal actions.

　　Innocente Marcolini, 60, an Italian businessman, fell ill after using a handset at work for up to sixhours every day for 12 years.

　　Now Italy's Supreme Court in Rome has blamed his phone saying there is a "causal link" betweenhis illness and phone use.

　　Mr Marcolini said: "This is significant for very many people. I wanted this problem to become publicbecause many people still do not know the risks.

　　"I wanted it recognized that there was a link between my illness and the use of mobile andcordless phones.

　　"Parents need to know their children are at risk of this illness."

　　British scientists have claimed there is insufficient evidence to prove any link to mobiles.

　　But the respected oncologist and professor of environmental mutagenesis Angelo Gino Levis gaveevidence for Mr Marcolini — along with neurosurgeon Dr Giuseppe Grasso.

　　They said electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile and cordless phones can damage cells, making tumors more likely.

　　Prof Levis told The Sun: "The court decision is extremely important. It finally officially recognizesthe link.

　　Mr Marcolini's tumor was discovered in the trigeminal nerve — close to where the phone touchedhis head.

　　It is non-cancerous but threatened to kill him as it spread to the carotid artery, the major vesselcarrying blood to his brain.

　　His face was left paralyzed and he takes daily morphine for pain.

　　The World Health Organization urged limits on mobile use last year, calling them a Class Bcarcinogen.

　　International radiation biology expert Michael Repacholi said: "Studies show no evidence of cancer. But if you are worried, use a headset, hands-free or loudspeaker."