Epidemiological study (observational study)

No association between the use of cellular or cordless telephones and salivary gland tumours epidem.

By: Hardell L, Hallquist A, Hansson Mild K, Carlberg M, Gertzen H, Schildt EB, Dahlqvist A

Published in: Occup Environ Med 2004; 61 (8): 675-679

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The association between the use of cellular telephones or cordless telephones and the risk for salivary gland tumour was investigated in a case-control study in Sweden.

Further details

Subjects who started their use of a mobile phone or cordless phone within one year prior diagnosis were classified as unexposed.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

salivary gland tumour

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- mobile communications
- analog mobile phone
- digital mobile phone
- GSM
- NMT
- cordless phone
- personal

Assessment

questionnaire: type of phone, years of use, brand name, first part of number (to differentiate between analog and digital), mean number and minutes of daily calls, use in car with fixed external antenna or hands-free device, ear most frequently used during calls
interview: supplementing data
calculation: cumulative use in hours

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	unexposed
Group 2	analog, 450 MHz, > 1 year latency
Group 3	analog, 450 MHz, > 5 year latency
Group 4	analog, 450 MHz, > 10 year latency
Group 5	analog, 900 MHz, > 1 year latency
Group 6	analog, 900 MHz, > 5 year latency
Group 7	analog, 900 MHz, > 10 year latency
Group 8	analog, all, > 1 year latency
Group 9	analog, all, > 5 year latency
Group 10	analog, all, > 10 year latency
Group 11	analog, ≤ 91 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 12	analog, ≤ 91 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 13	analog, ≤ 91 hours, > 10 year latency
Group 14	analog, > 91 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 15	analog, > 91 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 16	analog, > 91 hours, > 10 year latency
Group 17	digital, > 1 year latency
Group 18	digital, > 5 year latency
Group 19	digital, ≤ 64 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 20	digital, ≤ 64 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 21	digital, > 64 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 22	digital, > 64 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 23	cordless, > 1 year latency
Group 24	cordless, > 5 year latency
Group 25	cordless, ≤ 183 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 26	cordless, ≤ 183 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 27	cordless, > 183 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 28	cordless, > 183 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 29	all, > 1 year latency
Group 30	all, > 5 year latency
Group 31	all, > 10 year latency
Group 32	all, ≤ 182 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 33	all, ≤ 182 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 34	all, ≤ 182 hours, > 10 year latency
Group 35	all, > 182 hours, > 1 year latency
Group 36	all, > 182 hours, > 5 year latency
Group 37	all, > 182 hours, > 10 year latency

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 21–80 years
Observation period: 1994 - 1999
Study location: Sweden

Case group

Characteristics: salivary gland tumour
Data source: regional cancer registries
Exclusion criteria: deceased

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- 5-year age group
- case:control = 1:4

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	415	-
Contacted	293	1,172
Participants	267	1,053
Participation rate	91 %	90 %

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

)

Results (acc. to author)

No association between use of cellular telephones or cordless telephones and the risk of salivary gland tumours was found.

Study funded by

Cancer och Allergifonden (Cancer and Allergy Foundation), Sweden
Nyckelfonden, Sweden
Örebro Cancer Fund, Sweden
Swedish Work Environment Fund

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