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Cellular telephones and cancer
The
use of cellular phones and possible adverse health effects
related to their use, attract much attention. Reports of brain
tumour excesses occurring among phone users, case stories
in the press and reports on thermal as well as magnetic effects
on exposed tissue hypothesised to stimulate tumour growth,
combined with the explosion in subscribers to cellular phones,
raise public concern. The radiation from the cellular phones
is characterised as non-ionising, alongside radar, microwave
ovens and electrical wiring configuration. The radio frequency
signals emitted from the devices range between 450 and 2200
MHz, i.e. in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
A comprehensive review of the epidemiological literature was
recently carried out by Boice and McLaughlin [15]
and published by the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority.
They conclude, after a review of nine major studies (two cohort
studies on cancer, three hospital based case–control
studies, one incidence population based case–control
study and two prevalence based case– control studies),
that no significant association is present for brain tumours
and use of cellular phones, irrespective of duration of use,
type of phone (digital or analogue), tumour morphology or
laterality. The follow-up, however, is short, and even if
relative risks are unlikely to exceed 1.3 it is important
to monitor this exposure to exclude the possibility of any
long-term effects. On the other hand, no biological mechanism
supports a causal relation and there is no evidence of adverse
effects on laboratory animals.
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