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A recent major review of previous studies of the possible connection between cell phone use and cancer has concluded that the evidence is "increasingly against" such a risk. The following is a link to news report from Reuters on this study, which was published in the journal Environment Health Perspectives.
Following is the abstract as well as a link to the original paper
Abstract:
Mobile Phones, Brain Tumours and the Interphone Study: Where Are We Now?
Anthony J. Swerdlow, Maria Feychting, Adele C. Green, Leeka Kheifets, David A. Savitz, International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Standing Committee on Epidemiology
Background: In the past 15 years, mobile phone use has evolved from an uncommon activity to one with over 4.6 billion subscriptions worldwide. There is, however, public concern about the possibility that mobile phones might cause cancer, especially brain tumours.
Objectives: To review the evidence on whether mobile phone use raises risk of the main types of brain tumour, glioma and meningioma, with a particular focus on the recent publication of the largest epidemiological study yet - the 13-country Interphone Study.
Discussion: Methodological deficits limit the conclusions that can be drawn from Interphone, but its results, along with those from other epidemiological, biological and animal studies, and brain tumour incidence trends, suggest that within about 10-15 years after first use of mobile phones there is unlikely to be a material increase in the risk of brain tumours in adults. Data for childhood tumours and for periods beyond 15 years are currently lacking.
Conclusions: Although there remains some uncertainty, the trend in the accumulating evidence is increasingly against the hypothesis that mobile phone use can cause brain tumours in adults.
Graphs:
The following graphs were taken from the Supplementary Data of this paper.
Following is the abstract as well as a link to the original paper
Abstract:
Mobile Phones, Brain Tumours and the Interphone Study: Where Are We Now?
Anthony J. Swerdlow, Maria Feychting, Adele C. Green, Leeka Kheifets, David A. Savitz, International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Standing Committee on Epidemiology
Background: In the past 15 years, mobile phone use has evolved from an uncommon activity to one with over 4.6 billion subscriptions worldwide. There is, however, public concern about the possibility that mobile phones might cause cancer, especially brain tumours.
Objectives: To review the evidence on whether mobile phone use raises risk of the main types of brain tumour, glioma and meningioma, with a particular focus on the recent publication of the largest epidemiological study yet - the 13-country Interphone Study.
Discussion: Methodological deficits limit the conclusions that can be drawn from Interphone, but its results, along with those from other epidemiological, biological and animal studies, and brain tumour incidence trends, suggest that within about 10-15 years after first use of mobile phones there is unlikely to be a material increase in the risk of brain tumours in adults. Data for childhood tumours and for periods beyond 15 years are currently lacking.
Conclusions: Although there remains some uncertainty, the trend in the accumulating evidence is increasingly against the hypothesis that mobile phone use can cause brain tumours in adults.
Graphs:
The following graphs were taken from the Supplementary Data of this paper.
See the following humorous version of these graphs.
The above graphs of brain cancer incidence were taken from the document entitled "Supplemental Material" for the study Mobile Phones, Brain Tumours and the Interphone Study: Where Are We Now? The two top charts clearly show that there has been no change in the incidence of brain cancer for any age group over the past 25 years. The 3rd chart shows that cell phone use started in 1986 and has dramatically increased since the early 90's. These results are consistent with other data reported on this web site and in our critique of the book Disconnect for other countries including the Nordic countries, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. There has been no change in brain cancer incidence in any country The authors of this study chose to use brain cancer incidence data from Sweden, since this is one of the first countries in which cell phones were widely used. It is also the home country of several studies by Lennart Hardell, who is one of the few scientists who has "found" a strong correlation beween cell phone use and cancer. As the authors of this study point out, Hardell's findings and an alarmist interpretation of certain sections of the Interphone study, are increasingly implausible in the light of this incidence data. "Analyses of secular trends in brain tumour incidence, in countries that have had good quality diagnostic facilities and cancer registration, can give powerful evidence constraining what can reasonably be proposed as an aetiological relationship"...."This does not appear compatible with the greatest risk shown in the Interphone study - the odds ratios of about 4 within 5 years of first use for individuals using a phone for ≥1,640 hours cumulatively, nor with the risk estimates using a 'low user' baseline "group, in the Appendix of the Interphone paper".
The above graphs of brain cancer incidence were taken from the document entitled "Supplemental Material" for the study Mobile Phones, Brain Tumours and the Interphone Study: Where Are We Now? The two top charts clearly show that there has been no change in the incidence of brain cancer for any age group over the past 25 years. The 3rd chart shows that cell phone use started in 1986 and has dramatically increased since the early 90's. These results are consistent with other data reported on this web site and in our critique of the book Disconnect for other countries including the Nordic countries, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. There has been no change in brain cancer incidence in any country The authors of this study chose to use brain cancer incidence data from Sweden, since this is one of the first countries in which cell phones were widely used. It is also the home country of several studies by Lennart Hardell, who is one of the few scientists who has "found" a strong correlation beween cell phone use and cancer. As the authors of this study point out, Hardell's findings and an alarmist interpretation of certain sections of the Interphone study, are increasingly implausible in the light of this incidence data. "Analyses of secular trends in brain tumour incidence, in countries that have had good quality diagnostic facilities and cancer registration, can give powerful evidence constraining what can reasonably be proposed as an aetiological relationship"...."This does not appear compatible with the greatest risk shown in the Interphone study - the odds ratios of about 4 within 5 years of first use for individuals using a phone for ≥1,640 hours cumulatively, nor with the risk estimates using a 'low user' baseline "group, in the Appendix of the Interphone paper".
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All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Copyright 2009 EMF & Health