Saturday September 15, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Phone masts have been linked to clusters of cancer and other serious health problems, raising fears that wireless technology may pose a risk to certain populations, timeonline.co.uk reported on April 22 this year.

According to the story, seven clusters of cancer and other serious illnesses such as brain hemorrhages and high blood pressure have been found within a radius of 400 yards of mobile phone masts.

One of the studies conducted in Warwickshire found a cluster of 31 cases of cancers around a single street.   A quarter of the 30 staff at a school within sight of the 90th high mast have developed tumors since 2000 and another quarter have suffered other serious health problems.

The mast was pulled down eventually by the mobile phone company after the local residents protested, Timeonline.co.uk reported.   There are about 47,000 masts in the U.K.

Dr John Walker, a scientist who compiled the cluster studies, was cited as saying that he's convinced there is a potential link between the radiation emitted from the masts’ antennae and cancers discovered in local residents.

“Masts should be moved away from conurbations and schools and the power turned down,” he was quoted as saying.

The recent UK studies are not the only ones that have found a link between mobile phone masts and elevated cancer risk.   According to the story, studies from other European countries also show high incidence of cancer close to masts.