Hi all,
Sorry to raise this topic again but a recent study undertaken by leading neurologists in Oz (Charles Teo is world reknown for pioneering some brain tumor procedures), indicates that there is definitely a heightened risk of cell phone usage to brain tumors inc AN's.
I don't have the full article - am working on it, but i have put the published outline below.
I heard Dr Teo on the radio this morning and he is mounting a campaign targetting use of these phones by kids. The key issue he identified is that it can take around 10 years of constant use for the radiation to have an impact. He is not saying that it affects everyone but the studies indicate an exponential increase from around 10 years ago. i guess the key issue here is that cell phones have really only been around for around 20 odd years (active and popular use) so incidence of tumors would start to be prominant now especially as the usage has skyrocketed in the last 10 years - just ask the carriers about fee income!
He also mentioned that using an earpeice reduces the radiation by a very small amount. he said that he uses the speaker phone and holds the phone at arms length.
Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data
References and further reading may be available for this article.
Vini G. Khurana PhD, FRACSa, b, , , Charles Teo MBBS, FRACSc, Michael Kundi PhDd, Lennart Hardell MD, PhDe and Michael Carlberg MSce
a Australian National University, Australia
b Department of Neurosurgery, The Canberra Hospital, Garran ACT 2605, Australia
c The Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
d Institute of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1095, Austria
e Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Orebro SE-701 85, Sweden
Received 23 December 2008; accepted 21 January 2009. Available online 27 March 2009.
Referred to by: Commentary
Surgical Neurology, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 28 March 2009,
Ron Pawl
PDF (48 K)
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 ≥10 years (ie, minimum 10-year “latencyâ€?); and (iii) incorporation of a “lateralityâ€? 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 ≥10 years approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumor on the same (“ipsilateralâ€?) 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.
