Link Between Cell Phones and Cancer Remains Uncertain

The safety of cell phones is still in question after results of the biggest study-to-date on the link between cell phone use and brain tumors were inconclusive. The Interphone Study, which was partially funded by cell phone companies, examined whether cellular radio frequencies could be correlated to brain tumors. More than 10,000 people took part in the study, including cell phone users, non cell phone users, cell phone users who survived brain cancer, and brain cancer survivors who had never used cell phones. Overall, results showed that cell phone use does not increase the risk of glioma or meningioma. However, there were suggestions of an increased risk at glioma in people who had spent more than 1,640 hours on their cell phone. Regardless of over what period of time the use was spread, heavy users were found to have up to a 40% higher risk for glioma, and up to a 15% higher risk for meningioma. Jack Siemiatycki, a professor at the University of Montreal and one of the epidemiologists who led the study, stressed that cell phone users should not panic about possible risks related to cell phones. “If there are risks, they are probably pretty small. Should anyone be concerned about potential dangers of cell phones, they can remedy the issue by using hands-free devices and avoid exposure to radio frequencies around their head.”