Dr. Teo on cell phones and cancer “10 years = double risk of brain cancer”

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PMID: 19329160 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Neoplasm

Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data

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Vini G. Khurana PhD, FRACS^{a, b, ,} , Charles Teo MBBS, FRACS^c, Michael Kundi PhD^d, Lennart Hardell MD, PhD^e and Michael Carlberg MSc^e

^aAustralian National University, Australia

^bDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT 2605, Australia

^cThe Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia

^dInstitute of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1095, Austria

^eDepartment of Oncology, University Hospital, Orebro SE-701 85, Sweden

Received 23 December 2008;

accepted 21 January 2009.

Available online 27 March 2009.

Abstract

Background

The debate regarding the health effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation from sources such as power lines, base stations, and cell phones has recently been reignited. In the present review, the authors attempt to address the following question: is there epidemiologic evidence for an association between long-term cell phone usage and the risk of developing a brain tumor? Included with this meta-analysis of the long-term epidemiologic data are a brief overview of cell phone technology and discussion of laboratory data, biological mechanisms, and brain tumor incidence.

Methods

In order to be included in the present meta-analysis, studies were required to have met all of the following criteria: (i) publication in a peer-reviewed journal; (ii) inclusion of participants using cell phones for ≥10 years (ie, minimum 10-year “latency”); and (iii) incorporation of a “laterality” analysis of long-term users (ie, analysis of the side of the brain tumor relative to the side of the head preferred for cell phone usage). This is a meta-analysis incorporating all 11 long-term epidemiologic studies in this field.

Results

The results indicate that using a cell phone for ≥10 years approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumor on the same (“ipsilateral”) side of the head as that preferred for cell phone use. The data achieve statistical significance for glioma and acoustic neuroma but not for meningioma.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that there is adequate epidemiologic evidence to suggest a link between prolonged cell phone usage and the development of an ipsilateral brain tumor.

Keywords: Acoustic neuroma; Brain tumor; Cell phone; Electromagnetic radiation; Glioma; Incidence; Mechanism; Meningioma; Radiofrequency fields

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; CDMA, code division multiple access; CI, confidence interval; CNS, central nervous system; EMF, electromagnetic field; EMR, electromagnetic radiation; FCC, Federal Communications Commission; GSM, global system for mobile communication; IARC, International Agency for Research on Cancer; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma; OR, odds ratio; SAR, specific absorption rate; TDMA, time division multiple access; WHO, World Health Organization

Article Outline

1. Background

1.1. Cell phone technology

1.2. Electromagnetic field

1.3. Exposure

2. Long-term epidemiologic data

2.1. Meta-analysis methodology

2.2. Studies included in the meta-analysis fall into two data streams

2.3. The Hardell studies

2.4. The INTERPHONE study

2.5. Results of the long-term data meta-analysis

2.6. Limitations of the meta-analysis

2.7. Exposure overestimation versus underestimation

3. Laboratory data

3.1. Why has the laboratory data been inconsistent?

3.2. BioInitiative report

4. Clinical implications

4.1. Tumor Incidence data from CBTRUS

5. Conclusion

References

Fig. 1. Worldwide saturation: Cell phone subscribers per 100 inhabitants, 1994 to 2006 (data source: International Telecommunication Union, 2007).

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Fig. 2. Number of US cell phone subscribers by year (data source: Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, 2007).

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Fig. 3. Age-adjusted incidence of primary CNS tumors by year; US population 2000 standard (data source: CBTRUS 2008) [6].

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Table 1.Meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies with results on long-term (>10 or ≥10 years) cell phone use
NA, not available, ca/co, number of exposed cases/controls.^a Fixed effects model.
^b Not included in analysis because already part of pooled data.
^c Crude odds ratio, own calculations.

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Table 2.Age-adjusted incidence of primary CNS tumors in the sequential reports of CBTRUS^a
a Incidence is the number of cases per 100 000 population age-adjusted to the US population 2000 standard.
^b Latest published incidence for each year of diagnosis is rendered in boldface. Changes in incidence within and between years have been attributed by CBTRUS mainly to better surveillance and delayed reporting (late ascertainment; see text for details) [6].

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There is no author conflict of interest, and no funding was requested or received for this review. The conclusions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the authors’ affiliated institutions and employers.
Corresponding author. Department of Neurosurgery, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT 2605, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 6244 3937; fax: +61 2 6244 2718.