A 10-year study by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has ended with no conclusive result into the safety of mobile phones.

A report by Reuters revealed that researchers studied more than 13,000 cell phone users, in the largest study ever to investigate a possible link between brain cancer and mobile phones. The inconclusive results prompted the team to call for more research into a possible link and the risks of using mobile phones.

IARC's director Christopher Wild told Reuters:

‘The results really don't allow us to conclude that there is any risk associated with mobile phone use, but... it is also premature to say that there is no risk associated with it.’

The GSM Association – based in the UK – said the findings mirrored years of research into the subject and reflected the ‘large body of existing research and many expert reviews that consistently conclude that there is no established health risk’.

Mr Wild said that the findings of the IARC study – which began in 2000 – might not actually represent the true picture because mobile phone usage has increased dramatically since the start of the research.

The Mobile Manufacturers’ Forum – based in Australia – welcomed the findings of the study and supported ‘the need for ongoing research’.

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