“This is an important research result because now it’s proven that radiation spreads to the head and causes changes to neurons,” says Turku University Professor Heikki Hämäläinen, who led the research.

The study was accomplished with the aid of a Positron emission tomography (PET) scanner.

“For the first time in the world, three different research methods were combined: study of the skin temperature, radiation research and metabolic research,” Hämäläinen clarifies.

Expensive and difficult

Mobile phone radiation is a research subject across the globe.

“PET studies are rarely done because they are expensive and difficult,” says Hämäläinen.

On the basis of this research, it is not yet possible to draw conclusions regarding health hazards of mobile phone radiation. The study was part of the nationwide Wirecom project sponsored by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

“Radiation slows down metabolism, but it does not raise temperature,” explains Hämäläinen. “Now it would be good to launch a more extensive follow-up study in which we would continue making good use of the PET Centre’s imaging methods.”

The study was the result of cooperation between the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Turku, the Turku PET Centre, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.