This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

A Swedish study suggests that people who use cellular phones forat least ten years might be at greater risk for developing a rare,non-cancerous tumor. These tumors are called acoustic neuromas. Theygrow on the nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. Therisk was higher on the side of the head where the phone was usuallyheld.

Acoustic neuromas affect fewer than one in one hundred thousandpeople a year. They grow slowly and can take several years to bediscovered. The tumor pushes on the surface of the brain, but doesnot grow into the brain itself.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden ledthe study. It was published in the International Journal ofEpidemiology.

The study involved seven hundred fifty Swedes. About one hundredfifty of them had acoustic neuromas. About six hundred other peopledid not. Researchers asked all of the people about their cell phoneuse.

The researchers found that those people who had used cell phonesfor at least ten years had almost two times the risk of developingacoustic neuromas. In addition, the tumor risk was almost four timeshigher on the side of the head where the phone was usually held.

There was no increased risk for those who had used cell phonesfor fewer than ten years. At the time the study was done, onlyanalog phones had been in use for ten years.

Almost all early analog cell phones released more electromagneticradiation than the digital phones now being sold. But researcherssay they cannot be sure if the results are just linked to the use ofanalog phones. They say further study is needed.

Several earlier experiments have shown radiation from cellularphones can affect brain cells in a laboratory. But studies on peoplehave found no evidence that the phones present a health risk.However, experts say children should avoid using the phones for longperiods because their brains are still developing.

The study is part of a wider research program known as theInterphone study. The World Health Organization's cancer researchinstitute organized the research. It is trying to find out ifelectromagnetic radiation from cell phones damages health.

Final results of the study are expected to be released early nextyear.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by CynthiaKirk. This is Gwen Outen.