Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile phones, cordless phones and the risk for brain tumours epidem.

By: Hardell L, Carlberg M

Published in: Int J Oncol 2009; 35 (1): 5-17

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A pooled analysis of two previous case-control studies on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk of malignant and benign brain tumors was conducted in Sweden. Furthermore, the incidence rates of brain tumors during the time period of 1970 and 2007 were analyzed using the data of the Swedish Cancer Registry.

Further details

The first case-control study regarding the period 1997-2000 was published in the publications 9520 and 9895, the second study regarding the period 2000-2003 in publications 12068 and 12259. A pooled analysis on the malignant tumors is published in publication 13689 and on benign tumors in publication 13049.
Mobile phone use was defined as ipsilateral (≥ 50 % of the calling time) and as contralateral (< 50 %) in relation to tumor side.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, other/mixed glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma and other types of benign brain tumors

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

questionnaire: first year of use, type of phone, mean minutes of daily use over the years, use in a car with external antenna or a hands-free, ear most frequently used
interview: supplementing data

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 2	all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 3	all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 4	all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 5	all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 6	all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 7	all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency
Group 8	all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 9	all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency, contralateral
Group 10	all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency
Group 11	all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 12	all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency, contralateral
Group 13	age at first exposure mobile phone < 20 years, > 1 year latency
Group 14	age at first exposure < 20 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 15	age at first exposure < 20 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 16	age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 17	age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 18	age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 19	age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 20	age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 21	age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 22	age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 23	age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 24	age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 25	age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 26	age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 27	age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 28	age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 29	age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 30	age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 20–80 years
Observation period: 1997 - 2003
Study location: Sweden (Uppsala/Örebro and Linköping medical regions 1997-2003, Stockholm and Gothenburg regions 1997-2000)

Case group

Characteristics: brain tumor, histopathologically verified
Data source: Swedish Cancer Registry
Exclusion criteria: deceased, medical conditions

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area
- case:control = 1:1

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Participants	2,159	2,162
Participation rate	89 %	89 %

Other:

905 patients with malignant tumors and 1254 patients with benign tumors

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
socioeconomic status
year of diagnosis

)

Results (acc. to author)

An association between the use of mobile phones or cordless phones and astrocytoma and acoustic neuroma was found. An increased risk was especially observed among persons who started the use of mobile phones before the age of 20 years, however based on low numbers. No association was observed for meningioma and other brain tumor types. The analysis of data of the Swedish Cancer Registry showed increasing incidence of astrocytoma during 2000-2007. A decreasing incidence rate of acoustic neuroma was found during the same time period.

Study funded by

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

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