Report links cancer to mobile phone use

JERUSALEM, July 16 (UPI) -- An Israeli health report says the sharp rise of salivary gland cancer could be linked to the growing use of mobile phones.

The report focused on oral cavity cancer in Israel from 1970 to 2006, Haaretz said Thursday.

Researchers expressed concern over the increase of malignant growth in parotid glands, located under the ear, the report said. The report said from 1980 to 2002, the number of sufferers of this kind of cancer were approximately 25 each year but the number rose dramatically to 70 cases each year more recently.

Salivary gland cancer was the third most common cancer of the 11,843 Israelis who suffer from oral cancer documented in the report, the paper said. Lip cancer and throat cancer were the most common forms of cancer, the paper said.

The report was commissioned by Israel's Dental Association and directed by Avi Zini of the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine.