意大利最高法院近日判定，稱60歲的商人馬可里尼所患腦瘤與其長期使用手機有一定關聯。這一判定有可能會引來大量與手機使用相關的疾病訴訟案件。據悉，馬可里尼每天工作時用手機的時間長達6小時，并且這樣持續了12年。他的腦瘤位于三叉神經處，正好是手機經常與頭部接觸到區域。腦瘤擴大到頸動脈后，馬可里尼的面部完全癱瘓，每天還要用嗎啡止痛。英國科學家稱并沒有足夠的證據證明腦瘤與手機使用有關。不過，英國著名的腫瘤學專家和神經科專家均表示，手機和無繩電話釋放出的電磁輻射能破壞細胞，會增加患腫瘤的風險。世界衛生組織也于去年呼吁限制手機的使用，并將其歸為B級致癌物。國際輻射生物專家表示，目前尚無研究表明手機使用會致癌，不過建議在日常使用中多用耳機、免提或外放等設備。

A landmark court case has ruled there is a link between using a mobile phone and brain tumors, paving the way for a flood of legal actions.

A landmark court case has ruled there is a link between using a mobile phone and brain tumors, paving the way for a flood of legal actions.

Innocente Marcolini, 60, an Italian businessman, fell ill after using a handset at work for up to six hours every day for 12 years.

Now Italy's Supreme Court in Rome has blamed his phone saying there is a "causal link" between his illness and phone use.

Mr Marcolini said: "This is significant for very many people. I wanted this problem to become public because many people still do not know the risks.

"I wanted it recognized that there was a link between my illness and the use of mobile and cordless phones.

"Parents need to know their children are at risk of this illness."

British scientists have claimed there is insufficient evidence to prove any link to mobiles.

But the respected oncologist and professor of environmental mutagenesis Angelo Gino Levis gave evidence for Mr Marcolini — along with neurosurgeon Dr Giuseppe Grasso.

They said electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile and cordless phones can damage cells, making tumors more likely.

Prof Levis told The Sun: "The court decision is extremely important. It finally officially recognizes the link.

Mr Marcolini's tumor was discovered in the trigeminal nerve — close to where the phone touched his head.

It is non-cancerous but threatened to kill him as it spread to the carotid artery, the major vessel carrying blood to his brain.

His face was left paralyzed and he takes daily morphine for pain.

The World Health Organization urged limits on mobile use last year, calling them a Class B carcinogen.

International radiation biology expert Michael Repacholi said: "Studies show no evidence of cancer. But if you are worried, use a headset, hands-free or loudspeaker." (Read by Brian Salter, an editor at China Daily website)

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(Agencies)

Vocabulary:

trigeminal nerve: 三叉神經

carotid artery: 頸動脈

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen ）