Epidemiological study (observational study)

Cellular telephones and cancer--a nationwide cohort study in Denmark epidem.

By: Johansen C, Boice Jr JD, McLaughlin J, Olsen J

Published in: J Natl Cancer Inst 2001; 93 (3): 203-207

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A nationwide retrospective cohort study of cancer incidence was conducted in Denmark of all cellular telephone subscribers from 1982 through 1995.

Further details

Cellular telephone users were identified from subscriber lists of two Danish operating companies. The cancer incidence among the users was determined by linkage with the Danish Cancer Registry.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(standardized incidence rate (SIR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

list: cellular telephone subscribers of two Danish operating companies including type of phone (analog or digital), date of subscription

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	total subscriber
Group 2	time since first subscription to a cellular phone service: < 1 year
Group 3	time since first subscription to a cellular phone service: 1-4 years
Group 4	time since first subscription to a cellular phone service: ≥ 5 years
Group 5	age at entry: 0-49 years
Group 6	age at entry: 50-64 years
Group 7	age at entry: ≥ 65 years
Group 8	cellular phone system used: analog
Group 9	cellular phone system used: analog and digital
Group 10	cellular phone system used: digital
Group 11	duration of digital subscription: < 1 year
Group 12	duration of digital subscription: 1-2 years
Group 13	duration of digital subscription: ≥ 3 years

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: ≥ 18 years
Characteristics: cellular telephone subscribers
Observation period: January 1982 - December 1995
Study location: Denmark
Data source: Danish Cancer Registry
Exclusion criteria: corporate customers

Study size

Type	Value
Total	723,421
Eligible	420,095

Other:

1,128,493 peron-years of follow-up

Statistical analysis method:

Miettinen exaxt method

Results (acc. to author)

The results showed no increased risk for all cancers, brain tumors, leukemia, or tumors of the salivary glands, the sites of a priori interest. No association between cancer incidence and cellular phone subscription was found with the latency, age at first subscription, analog or digital cellular phones use, and duration of subscription.

Limitations (acc. to author)

No conclusions can be drawn for long-term users, since only 5.1% of the cohort members had a cellular phone subscription for more than 5 years.

Study funded by

Danish Cancer Society
International Epidemiology Institute, Maryland, USA
Sonofon, Denmark
TeleDanmark Mobil (TDC Mobil), Denmark

Comments on this article

Söderqvist F et al. (2012): Review of four publications on the Danish cohort study on mobile phone subscribers and risk of brain tumors
Hardell L (2004): No association between mobile phone usage and development of acoustic neuroma
Hardell L et al. (2001): Reply: Cellular telephones and cancer--a nationwide cohort study in Denmark
Hocking B (2001): Re: cellular telephones and cancer--a nationwide cohort study in Denmark
Godward S et al. (2001): Re: cellular telephones and cancer--a nationwide cohort study in Denmark

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