ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

By: Frei P, Poulsen AH, Johansen C, Olsen JH, Steding-Jessen M, Schüz J
Published in: Br Med J 2011; 343 : in press

This is a cohort study which investigated the risk of tumours in the central nervous system (CNS) among Danish mobile phone subscribers. In the study the Danish population aged ≥30 years and born in Denmark after 1925, was subdivided into subscribers and non-subscribers of mobile phones before 1995 and followed from 1990 to 2007. There was no overall association between having a mobile phone subscription and CNS tumours for either males or females [relative risks were 1.02 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.10) and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.86 to 1.22), respectively]. The authors conducted various other analyses and found no associations including with having a mobile phone subscription for more than 13 years, for specific tumours like glioma and meningioma or anatomical location of the tumour in regions of the brain closest to where the handset is usually held to the head. The authors conclude that there were no increased risks of tumours of the CNS, providing little evidence for a causal association.

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Although there have been a number of studies in the last decade that have investigated whether mobile phone use is associated with brain tumour the majority of these have been case-control studies (most notably the studies of the INTERPHONE project and by Hardell and co-workers). There has been one large cohort study and three follow up studies investigating mobile phone use and a variety of cancers in Denmark.  Johansen et al (2001) reported no association between mobile phone use and any cancer. In an extended follow up of the same cohort, Schuz et al (2006) also found no evidence for an association between cancer risk and mobile phone use among either short-term or long-term users. Using and extending the same cohort Schuz et al (2011) more recently reported that mobile phone use is not related to benign brain tumours. The study by Frei et al above also used the same cohort to report no increased risk with malignant brain tumours.

While the cohort study design eliminates or reduces some of the biases to which the existing case-control studies have been subject, the use of private subscriptions, excluding corporate subscriptions, to determine exposure has been criticised by some commentators.

In May 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed the possible carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Based on positive associations found in some epidemiological studies between glioma and acoustic neuroma and exposure to RF-EMF from wireless phones (mobile and cordless phones) IARC has classified RF EMF as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (also known as Group 2B carcinogen) (see June 2011 report). The classification by IARC does not provide estimates of what risk of cancer might by posed by any given level of exposure to RF fields.  An assessment of this and other possible health effects will be undertaken by the World Health Organization in the next year.

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By: Repacholi MH et al
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2011: in press

This is a systematic review of epidemiological and in vivo studies investigating whether wireless phones are associated with tumours of the head and neck. Meta-analyses of the epidemiological studies showed no statistically significant associations between wireless phone use and tumours of the head and neck. Similarly, pooled analyses of the in vivo studies showed no statistically significant association between exposure to radiofrequency RF fields and genotoxic damage to brain cells, or the incidence of brain cancers or other tumours of the head and neck. The authors conclude that assessment of the review results using the Bradford Hill criteria did not support a causal relationship between wireless phone use and the incidence of adult cancers in the areas of the head that most absorb RF energy from the use of wireless phones. However the authors note that there are insufficient data to make any determinations about longer-term use (more than10 years).

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By: Kavet R et al
Published in: Radiat Res 2011: in press

This epidemiological study investigated whether exposure to contact voltage is a confounder for the reported association between residential extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia (e.g. see March 2011 report). In the study, contact voltage and magnetic field measurements were conducted in 514 residences of leukaemia cases and control children and these were combined with similar data from other studies for a total of 702 residences. A pooled analysis showed a statistically significant association between residential magnetic fields and contact voltages (exposure odds ratio 15.1, 95% CI 3.6-61). The authors conclude that the relationship appears to be large enough to support the possibility that contact current could be responsible for the association between childhood leukaemia and magnetic fields reported in previous studies.

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By: Schüz J
Published in: Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011: in press

This is a review which updates the epidemiological research on ELF magnetic fields and childhood cancer. A recent pooled analysis of studies published after 2000 has confirmed an association between ELF magnetic fields greater than 0.4 microtesla (µT) although the association is weaker in recent studies (see September 2010 report). In contrast, another recent pooled analysis did not reveal consistent evidence of increased childhood brain tumour risk associated with ELF magnetic field exposure (see August 2010 report). The authors conclude that, overall, the assessment that ELF magnetic fields are a possible carcinogen and may cause childhood leukaemia remains valid.

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