Millions of mobile phone users in the UAE could be at risk of developing brain tumours, according to a leading expert on electromagnetic radiation, who will release his findings in Dubai today.

Dr Howard Fisher, who has conducted dozens of studies and written three books on the subject, says there is a definite link between prolonged mobile phone use and health problems such as brain cancer and low fertility.

He says there is a growing acceptance of the danger of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in other countries and says he hopes to raise awareness among the 7.2 million mobile users here.

“September 2009 saw the US Senate host a major conference on the subject whilst the French government is stepping up its efforts to limit the use of cell phones by children,” said Fisher.

He says doctors are currently in a difficult position when it comes to convincing the mobile phone industry and governments to act, because although there is some proof of a link between usage and health risks, experts have so far been unable to say exactly what causes that link.

“We are not sure whether it is the cell phone itself, the carrier [network provider] we have, the information we are receiving through the phone or a combination of all three,” Fisher, who will be presenting his body of work to the Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, explains.

His studies have included examination and observation of patients who have a history of prolonged mobile phone use, as well as laboratory tests.

One of his most significant findings came from a simple experiment that involved three samples of brain cells.

The first sample was left alone, the second had a mobile phone attached to it for one hour and the third was exposed to a mobile phone fitted with a radiation guard.

Fisher said: “We talked to two of the samples for 60 minutes. In the first, without the intervention device, we saw a 10.71 per cent decrease in the growth of the cells. This is no longer a myth.”