Cell phones and brain tumors:
A review including the long-term epidemiologic
data.
Surg Neurol. 2009 Sep;72(3):205-14; discussion 214-5. Epub 2009 Mar 27.
Links
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?orig_db=PubMed&db=pubmed&cmd=Search&term=%22Surgical%20neurology%22%5BJour%5D%20AND%20205%5Bpage%5D%20AND%202009%5Bpdat%5D
Khurana VG, Teo C, Kundi M, Hardell L, Carlberg M.
Australian National University, Australia. [email protected]
BACKGROUND: The debate regarding the health effects of low-intensity
electromagnetic radiation from sources such as power lines, base stations, and
cell phones has recently been reignited. In the present review, the authors
attempt to address the following question: is there epidemiologic evidence for
an association between long-term cell phone usage and the risk of developing a
brain tumor? Included with this meta-analysis of the long-term epidemiologic
data are a brief overview of cell phone technology and discussion of laboratory
data, biological mechanisms, and brain tumor incidence.
METHODS: In order to be included in the present meta-analysis, studies
were required to have met all of the following criteria: (i) publication in a
peer-reviewed journal; (ii) inclusion of participants using cell phones for >
or = 10 years (ie, minimum 10-year "latency"); and (iii) incorporation of a
"laterality" analysis of long-term users (ie, analysis of the side of the brain
tumor relative to the side of the head preferred for cell phone usage). This is
a meta-analysis incorporating all 11 long-term epidemiologic studies in this
field.
RESULTS: The results indicate that using a cell phone for > or = 10
years approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumor on
the same ("ipsilateral") side of the head as that preferred for cell phone use.
The data achieve statistical significance for glioma and acoustic neuroma but
not for meningioma.
CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that there is adequate epidemiologic
evidence to suggest a link between prolonged cell phone usage and the
development of an ipsilateral brain tumor.
PMID: 19328536 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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