Epidemiological study (observational study)

Use of mobile phones in Norway and risk of intracranial tumours epidem.

By: Klaeboe L, Blaasaas KG, Tynes T

Published in: Eur J Cancer Prev 2007; 16 (2): 158-164

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A population-based case-control study was conducted in Norway to test the hypothesis that use of mobile phones increases the risk of gliomas, meningiomas and acoustic neuromas. This study is part of the INTERPHONE project.

Further details

Regular use was defined as use of a cellular telephone at least once a week for 6 months or more.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: glioma, meningioma, acoustic neurinoma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- mobile communications
- analog mobile phone
- digital mobile phone
- personal

Assessment

interview: use of mobile phone, time since first regular use, use of hands-free devices, use of mobile phone on same or opposite site of tumor
calculation: cumulative time of mobile phone use, cumulative number of mobile phone calls

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	no or irregular use
Group 2	regular use
Group 3	duration of regular use: < 2 years
Group 4	duration of regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 5	duration of regular use: ≥ 6 years
Group 6	time since first regular use: < 2 years
Group 7	time since first regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 8	time since first regular use: ≥ 6 years
Group 9	cumulative use: < 17 hours
Group 10	cumulative use: 17 - 424 hours
Group 11	cumulative use: ≥ 425 hours
Group 12	cumulative use adjusted for handsfree: < 17 hours
Group 13	cumulative use adjusted for handsfree: 17 - 424 hours
Group 14	cumulative use adjusted for handsfree: ≥ 425 hours
Group 15	cumulative number of calls: < 400
Group 16	cumulative number of calls: 400 - 6999
Group 17	cumulative number of calls: ≥ 7000
Group 18	digital phones, regular use
Group 19	digital phones, time since first regular use: < 2 years
Group 20	digital phones, time since first regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 21	digital phones, time since first regular use: ≥ 6 years
Group 22	analog phones, regular use
Group 23	analog phones, time since first regular use: < 6 years
Group 24	analog phones, time since first regular use: ≥ 6 years
Reference group 25	ipsilateral, never or rare use or use or use on opposite side to tumour
Group 26	ipsilateral, regular use
Group 27	ipsilateral, duration of regular use: < 2 years
Group 28	ipsilateral, duration of regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 29	ipsilateral, duration of regular use: ≥ 6 years
Group 30	ipsilateral, time since first regular use: < 2 years
Group 31	ipsilateral, time since first regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 32	ipsilateral, time since first regular use: ≥ 6 years
Reference group 33	contralateral, never or rare use or use on same side as tumour
Group 34	contralateral, regular use
Group 35	contralateral, duration of regular use: < 2 years
Group 36	contralateral, duration of regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 37	contralateral, duration of regular use: ≥ 6 years
Group 38	contralateral, time since first regular use: < 2 years
Group 39	contralateral, time since first regular use: 2 - 5 years
Group 40	contralateral, time since first regular use: ≥ 6 years

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Observation period: 2001 - 2002
Study location: Norway (south/east and western/middle parts)

Case group

Characteristics: glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma
Data source: neurosurgery clinics

Control group

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

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Participants	541	358
Participation rate	74 %	69 %

Statistical analysis method:

logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
residential area
education

)

Results (acc. to author)

No association was found between the use of mobile phones and the risk of gliomas, meningiomas or acoustic neuroma. The laterality of mobile phone use did not correlate with the location of the tumours.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The observation time was too short to detect long-term effects of mobile phone 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
Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources program of European Union

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