Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Use of cellular telephones and the risk for brain tumours: A case-control study epidem.

Published in: Int J Oncol 1999; 15 (1): 113-116

Aim of study (acc. to author)

In this Swedish case-control study the exposure to cellular telephones as a potential risk factor for brain tumor was investigated.

Further details

Further results concerning occupational history and tumor laterality in relation to mobile phone use are published in publications 6110 and 9009.
Subjects with a minimum cumulative exposure time of 8 hours one year prior diagnosis were classified as exposed.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Group 1 latency period > 1 year: total
Group 2 latency period > 1 year: < 136 h
Group 3 latency period > 1 year: > 136 h
Group 4 latency period > 1 year, GSM: total
Group 5 latency period > 1 year, GSM: < 88 h
Group 6 latency period > 1 year, GSM: > 88 h
Group 7 latency period > 1 year, NMT: total
Group 8 latency period > 1 year, NMT: < 224 h
Group 9 latency period > 1 year, NMT: > 224 h
Group 10 latency period > 5 years: total
Group 11 latency period > 5 years: < 424 h
Group 12 latency period > 5 years: > 424 h
Group 13 latency period > 5 years, GSM: total
Group 14 latency period > 5 years, GSM: < 292 h
Group 15 latency period > 5 years, GSM: > 292 h
Group 16 latency period > 5 years, NMT: total
Group 17 latency period > 5 years, NMT: < 380 h
Group 18 latency period > 5 years, NMT: > 380 h
Group 19 latency period > 10 years, NMT: total
Group 20 latency period > 10 years, NMT: < 968 h
Group 21 latency period > 10 years, NMT: < 968 h

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Eligible 270 -
Contacted 233 -
Participants 217 439
Evaluable 209 425
Statistical analysis method:

Results (acc. to author)

Use of cellular telephones was reported by 78 cases (37.3 %) and 161 controls (37.9 %). Overall no increased risk for brain tumor among cellular phone users was found. No dose-response effects could be seen when different latency periods were used. Only a non-significantly increased risk for tumor localisation on the same side where the cellular phone had been used was found for analog NMT cellular phones. This result is based on low-numbers und must be interpreted with caution.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The observation time for use of GSM cellular phone was too short.

Study funded by

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