Use of mobile phones and cordless phones is associated with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma

Pathophysiology . · 2013 · Harm · Moderate evidence

← Research stream

HarmModerate evidencePaper 1307

Study snapshot

PublicationPathophysiology . · 2013

Study typemeta_analysis

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

all intracranial tumors and all phone types when the time from the first regular use of mobile phone was 10 years or more. We are not able to compare our results with reference to different kinds of intracranial tumors (glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma) in relation to time of using mobile phones. A reliable analysis was not feasible because, in our opinion, the number of original works is too small. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that long-term (over 10 years) use of mobile phones increases the risk of intracranial tumors, especially in the case of ipsilateral exposure. The same conclusions are valid for the work by Davis et al. (2013) [45], who reviewed papers on the association between the use of wireless (mobile and cordless) phones and intracranial tumors. Those authors stress that the risk of tumors in people who have used the phone for periods longer than 10 years is significantly elevated. In people who had started using the phone on a regular basis before they were 20 years old, the risk of ipsilateral glioma was found to be fourfold higher. Hardell et al. (2013) [46] stress the significance of the "lifetime exposure dose." For an exposure of ≥ 1640 h, the risk of ipsilateral acoustic neuroma is 2.55 (95% CI: 1.5-4.4). These results are in concordance with the conclusion of the expert panel for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), that cell phones are possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) [47]. More research is needed to confirm that electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones are carcinogenic to humans. Abstract The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO evaluation of the carcinogenic effect of RF-EMF on humans took place during a 24-31 May 2011 meeting at Lyon in France. The Working Group consisted of 30 scientists and categorised the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, and from other devices that emit similar non-ionising electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), as Group 2B, i.e., a 'possible', human carcinogen. The decision on mobile phones was based mainly on the Hardell group of studies from Sweden and the IARC Interphone study. We give an overview of current epidemiological evidence for an increased risk for brain tumours including a meta-analysis of the Hardell group and Interphone results for mobile phone use. Results for cordless phones are lacking in Interphone. The meta-analysis gave for glioma in the most exposed part of the brain, the temporal lobe, odds ratio (OR)=1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04-2.81 in the ≥10 years (>10 years in the Hardell group) latency group. Ipsilateral mobile phone use ≥1640h in total gave OR=2.29, 95% CI=1.56-3.37. The results for meningioma were OR=1.25, 95% CI=0.31-4.98 and OR=1.35, 95% CI=0.81-2.23, respectively. Regarding acoustic neuroma ipsilateral mobile phone use in the latency group ≥10 years gave OR=1.81, 95% CI=0.73-4.45. For ipsilateral cumulative use ≥1640h OR=2.55, 95% CI=1.50-4.40 was obtained. Also use of cordless phones increased the risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma in the Hardell group studies. Survival of patients with glioma was analysed in the Hardell group studies yielding in the >10 years latency period hazard ratio (HR)=1.2, 95% CI=1.002-1.5 for use of wireless phones. This increased HR was based on results for astrocytoma WHO grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme). Decreased HR was found for low-grade astrocytoma, WHO grades I-II, which might be caused by RF-EMF exposure leading to tumour-associated symptoms and earlier detection and surgery with better prognosis. Some studies show increasing incidence of brain tumours whereas other studies do not. It is concluded that one should be careful using incidence data to dismiss results in analytical epidemiology. The IARC carcinogenic classification does not seem to have had any significant impact on governments' perceptions of their responsibilities to protect public health from this widespread source of radiation.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typemeta_analysis

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · >=10 years, >=1640 hours cumulative use

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 70% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Long-term use (over 10 years) of mobile and cordless phones is associated with increased risk of intracranial tumors, especially glioma and acoustic neuroma, with ipsilateral exposure showing higher odds ratios. Ipsilateral glioma risk was fourfold higher for users starting before age 20. The meta-analysis showed OR=1.71 for glioma in the temporal lobe and OR=2.29 for ipsilateral use >=1640 hours. Acoustic neuroma ipsilateral use showed OR=2.55 for >=1640 hours. Meningioma results were less conclusive. Survival analysis showed increased hazard ratio for high-grade glioma with wireless phone use.

Outcomes measured

glioma
acoustic neuroma
meningioma
intracranial tumors

Limitations

Small number of original studies for some tumor types
Some studies show increasing incidence while others do not
Incidence data may be insufficient to dismiss epidemiological findings

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "meta_analysis",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone and cordless phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": ">=10 years, >=1640 hours cumulative use"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "glioma",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "meningioma",
    "intracranial tumors"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Long-term use (over 10 years) of mobile and cordless phones is associated with increased risk of intracranial tumors, especially glioma and acoustic neuroma, with ipsilateral exposure showing higher odds ratios. Ipsilateral glioma risk was fourfold higher for users starting before age 20. The meta-analysis showed OR=1.71 for glioma in the temporal lobe and OR=2.29 for ipsilateral use >=1640 hours. Acoustic neuroma ipsilateral use showed OR=2.55 for >=1640 hours. Meningioma results were less conclusive. Survival analysis showed increased hazard ratio for high-grade glioma with wireless phone use.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Small number of original studies for some tumor types",
    "Some studies show increasing incidence while others do not",
    "Incidence data may be insufficient to dismiss epidemiological findings"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "cordless phone",
    "glioma",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "brain tumor",
    "RF-EMF",
    "carcinogenicity",
    "IARC Group 2B"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Discusses IARC classification and carcinogenicity of RF-EMF from mobile phones"
    },
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.3,
      "reason": "Considers cumulative lifetime exposure dose relevant to risk"
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library