The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, an arm of WHO, the World Health Organization) warns us that cell phones may be carcinogenic. Really?
First of all- the classification they employed is one of my favorites: only “limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.” READ THAT AGAIN!!!!
Limited evidence… less than sufficient. By that definition, sugar would be in this category.
Oh, and the radiation you can get from even yesterday’s (not last decades’) cell phones is less than you get from flying from DC to LA!!!! (Just so you know, you could not hold those last decades’ phones to your head anyway, unless you are one of those that carries boomboxes on your head to blow out your eardrums.)
Dr. Jonathan Samet (USC), Chairman of the panel, said this classification was primarily due to a study done by Interphone. A little background. This study was paid by public funds ($15 million) from 13 European countries in the early 2000’s. Yes, at least 6 years ago. And, the results were held up for years due to internal dissension. The best I can tell is that the vote was split- but all wanted a recommendation of caution for little ones (preteens) using cell phones. This research centered on gliomas (brain cancers) and meningiomas (CNS cancers, typically benign). The results were inconclusive at best- and the authors admit the study was flawed. Other than that, great research in that at least ten papers have been published from this study.
The study compared 2708 glioma patients and 2409 meningioma patients to “matched” subjects who did not have cancer. The results- using a cellphone REDUCED your risk of cancer. Yes, that’s right- any way you want to slice or dice the data, that’s what the data demonstrated. Using a cell phone for 10 years had 1/5 the meningioma risk and almost a 2 % lower chance for glioma.
EXCEPT for 1 group. Folks that spent hours and hours and hours on a cell phone without ever using a hands-free unit. Using 1640 hours of talk time incurred a 15% increase in meningioma and 40% increase in glioma. But, if using a cellphone seems beneficial, as the data demonstrated, why would more use make it dangerous? Perhaps, because those who used their phones so assiduously have other lifestyle issues that were never even considered by the study?
This one exception here flies in the face of countless other studies that showed that cellphone use has no effect on developing cancer- or reduces the odds of developing cancer. Now, to be honest, epidemiological evidence to equate the occurrence of a rare form of cancer (which lowers the overall numbers one can study) to a common risk factor (like using cellphones) is a most daunting task. The collection of data would require far greater numbers than that employed by the Interphone study. For example, the incidence of gliobastoma multiforme (an aggressive brain cancer) is between 2 and 3 cases per 100,000 people per year. Even believing this one piece of data from the Interphone study would mean that the number of cases found would be just over 3. You can’t make a judgment from such a small number. Your cancer risk is infinitely higher when you walk in the sun!
My advice:
- Keep the cell phones away from toddlers. (This is a great idea no matter what.) There is no need for them to have cellphones.
- Use a hands-free device. The radiation from these devices is at best 1/1000 that of the cell-phones. The hands-free unit only has to find a device within 10 feet. The cellphone has to be able to search much longer distances.
Awesome Roy! My grandmother was so mad at me! She called me about this yesterday and I just laughed at her. She asked me what was so funny and I told her that 5 years ago bluetooth technology caused cancer too. Probably not the best way to handle that but I’ll have to send her this link! Thanks for sharing Roy!
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I knew about the Interphone study for about two years. Then I head the report. I had no clue that was the basis for their “recommendation” until I pored through the announcement.
I am all for being careful. But, this is policy making that grasps at any point it can to make the choice seem more logical.
Thanks for the comment and for visiting, Kristen.
I agree that people should use reasonable caution when using a cell phone, but there is no reason to panic.
I do not talk on my phone very much but I do tend to carry it in my pocket. I have decided that this might not be a good idea so I have started leaving it on the counter or putting it in my purse. I might miss a call or two, but I feel better about not having the phone next to my body.
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Janette:
There is no concern for your cellphone to be next to your body.
It is ONLY when it is within a few cm of your head. And, for younger children, whose skulls have not fully formed, this COULD be a bigger concern. Why risk it?
Thanks for your visit and comment.
Roy
Hi Roy,
Thanks for the advice. My sister-in-law allows her toddlers to play with her cell phone. I will remind her that it’s best to keep the cell phone away from them.
My husband uses a hands-free device but not me. Will look into one!
Many thanks,
Diana
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Diana:
Again, we have NO REAL DATA about the dangers. However, that does not mean we should not be prudent.
The activity near the ear that is stimulated by phone usage may be benign, it may be beneficial (both data exist), or if you are like me and use the cellphones for hours at a clip, it may increase the chance for brain cancer by 1 in a million or less.
Thanks for your comment- and for the visit.
Roy
Good to hear!! Thanks for the info, Roy!
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“Can you hear me now?” would be the rejoinder, right, Holly?
Hi Roy,
I knew it. I doubt about it as soon as I heard the news on the radio and the announcer mentioned the “long time” condition in a not conclusive tone. Thanks for the info.
I will not allow my toddler to use my cell phone, not because of cancer, but because he would probably destroy it in a couple of seconds.
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Gustavo…
I agree- and loved your example! Thanks for the comment.
Roy
It seems I hear this issue every 6 months or so. I just wonder who starts reporting and sending out this information. Most people will only read a headline and freak out!
I personally always use handsfree. I even use my speaker on my cell phone in my office. I don’t like the phone to my ear anymore. That is because, and the ladies will relate, it would tug down my pierced earring and hurt my ear.
Appreciate you writing and sharing this information Roy.
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It’s been recurring, Lynn, because of politics. This study was completed in 2004/5 and then got dribbled out in various publications. However, the “news” was reported to force the issuance of findings. Once I found it this warning was based upon one study… and read the study… well… what could I say other than what I wrote.
Roy
Thanks Roy, for once again another medical discovery. It’s amazing how some people are phone addicts, even teens and homes where they are used around kinds.
I’ve heard that before but now you confirmed my fears. Thanks.
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Again, Stella, the data does NOT, in spite of the pronouncement, state that cell phones can cause brain cancer. Only that for those who use cellphones heavily (and report those results), there is a slight increase in observed brain cancer. However, that makes less sense when one looks at the SAME data that shows moderate and light use PROTECTS against brain cancer. That is the problem with both rare cancers and survey data where people announce what their use is or is not.
Thanks for dropping in.
Roy
It is getting tougher…every time we have a new discovery we had research relating it to cancer – microwaves, cell phones, laptops, blue tooth, infrared – a lot of concrete evidence still remains to be “discovered” but it is very understandable, the more we are progressing, we are being careful in considering the side effects!
Though I don’t use my cell phone much…used to earlier but people told me about some data suggesting hearing loss to excess use!
My 5 year old nephew is a big fan of the iPhone….will have to “warn” him now!
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This was not a new discovery, Hajra! It was a finding that was complete in 2004 and 2005 and has been under discussion for years. Why? because the data are inconclusive and one piece contradicts all the others.
It’s a good idea to keep phones away from children – and to use hands-free devices for all. Other than that, we simply don’t know.
Thanks for dropping in.
Roy