Mobile phone use and the risk of acoustic neuroma.
BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones is concentrated to the tissue closest to the handset, which includes the auditory nerve. If this type of exposure increases tumor risk, acoustic neuroma would be a potential concern.


METHODS
In this population-based case-control study we identified all cases age 20 to 69 years diagnosed with acoustic neuroma during 1999 to 2002 in certain parts of Sweden. Controls were randomly selected from the study base, stratified on age, sex, and residential area. Detailed information about mobile phone use and other environmental exposures was collected from 148 (93%) cases and 604 (72%) controls.


RESULTS
The overall odds ratio for acoustic neuroma associated with regular mobile phone use was 1.0 (95% confidence interval = 0.6-1.5). Ten years after the start of mobile phone use the estimates relative risk increased to 1.9 (0.9-4.1); when restricting to tumors on the same side of the head as the phone was normally used, the relative risk was 3.9 (1.6-9.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not indicate an increased risk of acoustic neuroma related to short-term mobile phone use after a short latency period. However, our data suggest an increased risk of acoustic neuroma associated with mobile phone use of at least 10 years' duration.
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Stefan.Lonn@imm.ki.se
Stefan
S
Lönn
Anders
A
Ahlbom
Per
P
Hall
Maria
M
Feychting
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D040421:Cell Phone; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors