Mobile Phone and Diseases

A study by scientists in Finland has found that mobile phone radiation can cause changes in human cells that might affect the brain, the leader of the research team said.

But Darius Leszczynski, who headed the 2-year study and will present findings next week at a conference in Quebec(魁北克), said more research was needed to determine the serious-ness of the changes and their impact on the brain or the body.

The study at Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority found that exposure to radiation from mobile phones can cause increased activity in hundreds of proteins in human cells grown in a laboratory, he said.

"We know that there is some biological response. We can detect it with our very sensitive approaches, but we do not know whether it can have any physiological effects on the human brain or human body," Leszczynski said.

Nonetheless the study, the initial findings of which were published last month in the scientific journal Differentiation, raises new questions about whether mobile phone radiation can weaken the brain's protective shield against harmful substances.

The study focused on changes in cells that line blood vessels and on whether such changes could weaken the functioning of the blood-brain barrier, which prevents potentially harmful substances from entering the brain from the bloodstream. Leszczynski said.

The study found that a protein called hsp27 linked to the functioning of the blood-brain barrier showed increased activity due to irradiation and pointed to a possibility that such activity could make the shield more permeable(能透过的), he said.

"Increased protein activity might cause ceils to shrink-not the blood |vessels hut the cells themselves-and then tiny gaps could appear between those cells through which some molecules could pass." he said.

Leszezynski declined to speculate on what kind of health risks that could pose, but said a French study indicated that headache, fatigue and sleep disorders could result.

"These are not life-threatening problems but can cause a lot of discomfort," he said, adding that a Swedish group had also suggested a possible link with Alzheimer's disease.

"Where the truth is do not know," he said.

Leszczynski said that he, his wife and children use mobile phones, and he said that he did not think his study suggested any need for new restrictions on mobile phone use.

36 According to Leszczynski, how does mobile phone affect one's health? ________

A Mobile phone radiation can increase protein activities and such activities can make the protective shield more permeable.

B Mobile phone radiation can shrink the blood vessels and prevent blood from flowing smoothly.

C Mobile phone radiation will bring stress to people exposed to it.

D Mobile phone radiation kills blood cells at a rapid speed.

37 What's the result of the French study? ________

A The harm of mobile phone radiation is life-threatening.

B Mobile phone may affect one's normal way of thinking.

C Sleep disorders could result from mobile phone radiation.

D A protein called hsp27 is killed by mobile phone radiation.

38 What kind of disease is not caused by the use of mobile phone? ________

A Fatigue.

B Headache.

C Alzheimer's disease.

D Tuberculosis.

39 According to the passage, what would be the future of the use of mobile phone? ________

A People will be forbidden to use mobile phone.

B People dare not use mobile phone because of its radiation.

C People will continue to use mobile phone.

D There will be new restrictions on the use of mobile phone.

40 Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? ________

A The research in Finland found that mobile phone radiation will affect one's brain.

B Mobile phone radiation can cause increased activity in hundreds of protein in human cells.

C Increased protein activity might cause cells to shrink.

D Leszczynski forbid his wife and children to use mobile phone after、his research.