Compared to nonusers, mobile phone users have lower hip bone mineral content and density
FRIDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Men who carry their cell phone next to their hip may have reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in same side hip, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.
Fernando D. Saravi, M.D., Ph.D., from the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina, analyzed data from 48 healthy male adults to compare differences in right and left hip bone BMD and BMC between 24 nonusers of mobile phones and 24 users who carried the phone close to their right hip for at least one year. Each participant underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and differences in BMC and BMD were recorded for femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip.
The investigators found that there were no differences in mean BMDs and BMCs between the two groups. BMC was higher in the right femoral neck compared to the left of nonusers but this difference was not seen in users. Compared to nonusers, mobile phone users had significantly lower BMD and BMC at the right trochanter and lower BMC in right total hip. Differences between right and left trochanter BMD were significantly correlated with estimated cumulative hours carrying a cell phone on the right hip.
"The different patterns of right-left asymmetry in femoral bone mineral found in mobile cell phone users and nonusers are consistent with a nonthermal effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency waves not previously described," the author writes.
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