Is There a Cell Phone - Cancer Connection? Why Don't We Have a Definitive Answer Yet?
November, 2008 -- For most of us, it’s impossible to imagine life without a cell phone. But can the technology have an impact on our health? While most studies performed in the last ten years, the period in which cell phones have come into common use, have found no increased risk of brain and central nervous system cancers related to cell phone use, the investigations continue and some prominent scientists warn that with the increase in use and a longer history of use, we may see some serious health effects.
The most recent alarm was sounded by Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, a PinnacleCare Center of Excellence. He sent a memo to his colleagues based on early, unpublished data from the largest, ongoing study of cell phone safety, INTERPHONE. The study, which began in 2000, includes examinations of the link between cell phone use and brain, central nervous system and salivary gland tumors by scientists from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and Japan. To date, none of the published data from INTERPHONE demonstrate a definitive link between cell phones and cancer risk.
Radiofrequency energy is at the heart of concerns
Worries about cancer risk focus on the radiofrequency energy (RF) that cell phones emit. When large amounts of RF are emitted, it can heat tissue and potentially damage it. The level of RF emitted is higher in areas where there are fewer transmission cells or physical obstacles that block transmission like buildings.
RF is measured by specific absorption rate (SAR), that is how much RF is absorbed by the exposed body part. The concern is that because cell phones are held close to the head, people who use them frequently and for extended periods of time may be exposing their brain, central nervous system and other nearby tissues to significant amounts of RF over time.
While most studies released to date have found no association between cell phone use and an increased risk for brain tumors, specifically gliomas, meningiomas and acoustic neuromas (benign tumors of the acoustic nerve), there is some new, preliminary research that suggests otherwise. An Israeli scientist published data from an examination of 500 people in 2008 that showed a 50 percent increase in risk for developing a benign or malignant salivary gland tumor on the side of the head where the cell phone was held compared to non-cell phone users.
In Finland, researchers found that living tissue, in this case skin, responds to the RF from cell phones, altering protein expression and activity on the cellular level. While the researchers do not claim this discovery can be linked to any health risk, they do note that it shows that cell phone RF does have a demonstrable biologic effect on humans.
The conflicting data on cell phone safety may result from a variety of factors including the fact that many studies relied on participants’ ability to remember how often and how long they used their cell phones five or more years ago, the fact that the technology is relatively new and the latency period for most cancers can be decades, and the difference between the RF emitted by analog phones, the predominant technology when the studies began, and digital phones, the current standard.
Steps you can take to lessen your RF exposure
While there is no definitive data that proves that cell phones pose a health risk, if you want to lower your exposure to RF, there are simple steps you can take. All cell phone makers are required to list the SAR of their devices, so you can choose a phone with a lower SAR value. Experts also recommend using a hands-free device to put distance between your cell phone’s antenna and your head, limiting the amount of time you’re on your cell and limiting the use of cell phones by children since their brains are still developing and may be more susceptible to the effects of RF.
While many scientists are taking a “wait and see” attitude, some, like the University of Pittsburgh’s Dr. Herberman, are being proactive. “Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn't wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” he says.
Resources
“Why Cell Phone Health Concerns Persist.” A recent article in Business Week explores what scientists know about the effect of cell phones on human health. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc2008085_412407.htm
