Italian Court Rules Cell Phone Caused Man’s Brain Tumor

Italy’s supreme court has upheld a ruling that there is a link between a man’s benign brain tumor and his heavy cell phone use — a ruling that could potentially open the door for further legal claims.

The Italian court’s decision is a contradiction to the majority of scientific opinion, which states that there is not enough evidence to link cell phone use with brain tumors and other disease, reports Reuters.

Some experts add that the ruling should not be used to draw any other conclusions about the subject. Malcolm Sperrin, director of medical physics and clinical engineering at Britain’s Royal Berkshire Hospital, stated:

“Great caution is needed before we jump to conclusions about mobile phones and brain tumors.”

The Italian cell phone brain tumor case concerned company director Innocenzo Marcolini, who developed a tumor on the left side of his head after he used his cell phone for five to six hours a day for 12 years.

Marcolini normally held his phone in his left hand so he could take notes with his right hand, notes Fox News. The businessman’s face is now partially paralyzed from the tumor. His lawyers were able to present doctors to testify that there is a link between excessive cell phone use and tumors like the one Marcolini suffers from.

The impact of the ruling in Italy, as well as around the world, is not yet clear, especially since numerous studies have failed to find a casual link between brain tumors and cell phone usage. The World Health Organization currently classifies cell phones as “possible” carcinogens, putting them in the same category as pesticides and coffee.