We don't know what causes brain tumours, but research is going on all the time to try and find the answer. Remember though, it isn't anything that you have done!
Young people with certain rare conditions that run in families (known as genetic conditions) - such as one called neurofibromatosis type 1- have an increased chance of developing brain tumours.
There has been a lot in the news about whether mobile phones might be linked to brain tumours. There is no evidence available to support this but there hasn't been enough time to really say for certain. For now the advice is that young children should 'have their use limited'.
There are several reasons for this:
- The skulls of young children are thinner than adults, and are still growing, which means that radio waves penetrate them more easily.
- The brain cells of children absorb more of the radio waves than adults, and are more sensitive.
- People who first start regularly using mobile phones as young children will have a longer lifetime exposure to any effects of the phones than older people.
This recommendation for young children and teenagers to keep the use of mobile phones to a minimum is not because the experts feel that there is a risk, but is just being extra safe. So that, in the unlikely event that time does show up any hazard, children, who would be most at risk, will have been protected.
