Epidemiological study (observational study)

Brain cancer incidence trends in relation to cellular telephone use in the United States epidem.

By: Inskip PD, Hoover RN, Devesa SS

Published in: Neuro Oncol 2010; 12 (11): 1147-1151

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A study was conducted in the USA to investigate the time trends of brain cancer incidence in relation to cellular phone use.

Further details

Trends were investigated separately for 1977-1991 (introduction of new diagnostic technologies such as computertomography and magnetic resoncance imaging which led to an increase in diagnosed cases) and 1992-2006 (exponentially increasing use of cellular phones).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: malignant brain tumor: glioma and other types
childhood brain/CNS tumor

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(standardized incidence rate (SIR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

list: number of wireless subscribers as supplied by the Cellular Telephone Industry Association

Population

Group:
- men
- women
- children
Characteristics: white patients diagnosed with brain cancer
Observation period: 1977 - 2006
Study location: USA (states of Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, and Utah; metropolitan areas of Atlanta (GA), Detroit (MI), San Francisco (CA), and Seattle (WA)
Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program

Study size

Type	Value
Total	38,788

Other:

approximately 10 % of the US population is covered by the study

Statistical analysis method:

log-linear model

Results (acc. to author)

Overall, brain cancer incidence rates have declined since the early 1990s. The increase in the time period before is believed to be attributable to improved diagnosis. The only subgroup in this study that showed a significant increasing trend since 1992 was the group of 20-29 year-old females. This increase could be mainly attributed to an increase in frontal lobe tumors which is not the part of the brain highly exposed by cellular phones.
The authors conclude that the incidence data do not provide support to the view that cellular phone use causes brain cancer.

Study funded by

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), USA
National Cancer Institute (NCI; U.S. National Institutes of Health), Maryland, USA
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Maryland, USA

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