2010-05-17 10:57:42
By FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Writer Frank Jordans, Associated Press
Writer Sun May 16, 4:10 pm ET
GENEVA Cell phone users worried about getting brain cancer aren't off the
hook yet.
A major international study into the link between cell phone use and two types
of brain cancer has proved inconclusive, according to a report due to be
published in a medical journal Tuesday.
A 10-year survey of almost 13,000 participants found most cell phone use didn't
increase the risk of developing meningioma a common and frequently benign
tumor or glioma a rarer but deadlier form of cancer.
There were "suggestions" that using cell phones for more than 30 minutes each
day could increase the risk of glioma, according to the study by the World
Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. But the
authors added that "biases and error prevent a causal interpretation" that
would directly blame radiation for the tumor.
Longer call times appeared to pose a greater risk than the number of calls
made, the study found.
Among the factors that weren't examined were the effects of using handsfree
devices during calls or the risk of having cell phones close by while not
making calls such as in a pocket, or next to the bed at night.
The authors acknowledged possible inaccuracies in the survey from the fact that
participants were asked to remember how much and on which ear they used their
mobiles over the past decade. Results for some groups showed cell phone use
actually appeared to lessen the risk of developing cancers, something the
researchers described as "implausible."
The authors said further investigation is necessary before they can conclude
with certainty that there is no link between cell phone radiation and brain
cancer, partly because people's use of the devices has changed considerably
since the start of the study in 2000.
Scientists are also planning to examine whether cell phone use increases the
risk of tumors in the ear's acoustic nerve and the parotid gland, where saliva
is produced. A separate study will look into the effects of cell phone use on
children, who are believed to be more susceptible to the effects of radiation.
The paper, which will be published in the International Journal of
Epidemiology, was compiled by researchers in 13 countries including Britain,
Canada, France, Germany and Japan, but not the U.S. Scientists interviewed
12,848 participants, of which 5,150 had either meningioma or glioma tumors.
Almost a quarter of the euro19.2 million ($24 million) required to fund the
study was provided by the cell phone industry, though WHO said measures were
taken to ensure the scientists' independence was protected.
Network operators and handset companies had keenly anticipated the results,
which could have threatened the rapid development of their business. There were
an estimated 4.6 billion mobile phone subscriptions at the end of last year,
compared with about 1 billion in 2002, according to the International
Telecommunication Union.
In a statement Sunday, the Mobile Manufacturers Forum welcomed the study.
"The mobile phone industry takes all questions regarding the safety of mobile
phones seriously and has a strong commitment to supporting ongoing scientific
research," the industry group said.
The study's lead authors are due to present their findings to the media in
Geneva on Monday.