Epidemiological study (observational study)

Long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk epidem.

By: Lönn S, Ahlbom A, Hall P, Feychting M

Published in: Am J Epidemiol 2005; 161 (6): 526-535

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The purpose of this Swedish population-based, case-control study was to investigate whether long-term mobile phone use increases the risk of brain tumors. The study is part of the INTERPHONE project.

Further details

Regular use of a mobile phone was defined as use on average once per week during at least 6 months.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: glioma and meningioma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

Type of assessment: Individual
interview: mobile phone use

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	unexposed: never or rarely used
Group 2	regular use
Group 3	duration of regular use < 5 years
Group 4	duration of regular use 5-9 years
Group 5	duration of regular use ≥ 10 years
Group 6	time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 7	time since first regular use 5-9 years
Group 8	time since first regular use ≥ 10 years
Group 9	cumulative use < 30 hours
Group 10	cumulative use 30-499 hours
Group 11	cumulative use ≥ 500 hours
Group 12	cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use < 30 hours
Group 13	cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use 30-499 hours
Group 14	cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use ≥ 500 hours
Group 15	cumulative number of calls < 650
Group 16	cumulative number of calls 650-8549
Group 17	cumulative number of calls ≥ 8550
Group 18	digital phones regular use
Group 19	digital phones, time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 20	digital phones, time since first regular use ≥ 5 years
Group 21	analog phones regular use
Group 22	analog phones, time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 23	analog phones, time since first regular use 5-9 years
Group 24	analog phones, time since first regular use ≥ 10 years

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 20–69 years
Observation period: September 2000 - August 2002
Study location: Sweden (Umea, Stockholm, Göteborg, Lund)

Case group

Characteristics: intracranial glioma and meningioma
Data source: regional cancer registries
Exclusion criteria: deafness, missing intellectual or lingual skills

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	819	956
Participants	644	674
Participation rate	78 %	71 %

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
residential area
education

)

Results (acc. to author)

No increased risk for the brain tumors glioma and meningioma related to mobile phone use was found, regardless of tumor histology, type of phone, and duration of use.

Study funded by

European Union (EU)/European Commission
GSM Association, UK/Ireland
International Union against Cancer (UICC; Union Internationale Contre le Cancer), Switzerland
Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium
Swedish Research Council (VR)

Comments on this article

Milham S (2005): Re: "long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk"
Hardell L et al. (2005): Re: "long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk"
Morgan L (2005): Re: "long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk"
Lönn S et al. (2005): Re: Long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk

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