Epidemiological study (observational study)

Epidemiological evidence for an association between use of wireless phones and tumor diseases epidem.

By: Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K

Published in: Pathophysiology 2009; 16 (2-3): 113-122

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The possible association between mobile phone use and brain tumor as well as other tumor types was investigated in a meta-analysis. It is an update of a recently published meta-analysis (Hardell et al. 2008).

Further details

Following studies were included: Inskip et al. 2001, Auvinen et al. 2002, Lönn et al. 2004, Christensen et al. 2004, Hardell et al. 2004, Hardell et al. 2004, Hardell et al. 2005, Schoemaker et al. 2005, Lönn et al. 2005, Christensen et al. 2005, Hepworth et al. 2006, Schüz et al. 2006, Lönn et al. 2006, Hardell et al. 2006, Takebayashi et al. 2006, Lahkola et al. 2007, Hours et al. 2007, Schlehofer et al. 2007, Klaeboe et al. 2007, Sadetzki et al. 2008, Takebayashi et al. 2008, and Lahkola et al. 2008.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

leukemia and lymphoma: non-Hodgkin lymphoma
brain tumor: glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma
salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, malignant melanoma of the eye, intratemporal facial nerve tumor

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

questionnaire

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	not exposed
Group 2	regular mobile phone use
Group 3	regular mobile phone use: > 10 years
Group 4	ipsilateral regular mobile phone use: > 10 years
Group 5	contralateral regular mobile phone use: > 10 years

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Study location: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, UK, Israel, USA, Japan

Statistical analysis method:

fixed effects model

Results (acc. to author)

Overall, no increased risk was found for glioma associated with mobile phone use. However, a significantly increased risk for glioma was observed for 10 years latency period (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6), increasing to a OR of 1.9 (CI 1.4-2.4) for ipsilateral use. Overall, no increased risk was found for acoustic neuroma associated with mobile phone use. However, a significantly increased risk for acoustic neuroma was observed for 10 years latency period and ipsilateral use (OR 1.6, CI 1.1-2.4). No increased risk for meningioma and mobile phone use was found. No consistent pattern of association between cordless phone use and salivary gland tumor, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and testicular cancer was found. The findings of the studies on malignant melanoma of the eye and intratemporal facial nerve tumors are limited due to methodological shortcomings.
The authors concluded that their review yielded a consistent pattern of an increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma after more than 10 years mobile phone use.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The results are based on low numbers of long-term users.

Study funded by

Cancer och Allergifonden (Cancer and Allergy Foundation), Sweden
Örebro Cancer Fund, Sweden

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