Systematic review of wireless phone use and brain cancer and other head tumors.
We conducted a systematic review of scientific studies to evaluate whether the use of wireless phones is linked to an increased incidence of the brain cancer glioma or other tumors of the head (meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and parotid gland), originating in the areas of the head that most absorb radiofrequency (RF) energy from wireless phones. Epidemiology and in vivo studies were evaluated according to an agreed protocol; quality criteria were used to evaluate the studies for narrative synthesis but not for meta-analyses or pooling of results. The epidemiology study results were heterogeneous, with sparse data on long-term use (≥ 10 years). Meta-analyses of the epidemiology studies showed no statistically significant increase in risk (defined as P < 0.05) for adult brain cancer or other head tumors from wireless phone use. Analyses of the in vivo oncogenicity, tumor promotion, and genotoxicity studies also showed no statistically significant relationship between exposure to RF fields and genotoxic damage to brain cells, or the incidence of brain cancers or other tumors of the head. Assessment of the review results using the 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. There are insufficient data to make any determinations about longer-term use (≥ 10 years).
Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. mrepacholi@yahoo.com
Michael H
MH
Repacholi
Alexander
A
Lerchl
Martin
M
Röösli
Zenon
Z
Sienkiewicz
Anssi
A
Auvinen
Jürgen
J
Breckenkamp
Guglielmo
G
d'Inzeo
Paul
P
Elliott
Patrizia
P
Frei
Sabine
S
Heinrich
Isabelle
I
Lagroye
Anna
A
Lahkola
David L
DL
McCormick
Silke
S
Thomas
Paolo
P
Vecchia
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D040421:Cell Phone; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors