Using the Hill viewpoints from 1965 for evaluating strengths of evidence of the risk for brain tumors associated with use of mobile and cordless phones.

Reviews on environmental health · 2013 · Harm · Insufficient evidence

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HarmInsufficient evidencePaper 4565

Study snapshot

PublicationReviews on environmental health · 2013

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Wireless phones, i.e., mobile phones and cordless phones, emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) when used. An increased risk of brain tumors is a major concern. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at the World Health Organization (WHO) evaluated the carcinogenic effect to humans from RF-EMF in May 2011. It was concluded that RF-EMF is a group 2B, i.e., a "possible", human carcinogen. Bradford Hill gave a presidential address at the British Royal Society of Medicine in 1965 on the association or causation that provides a helpful framework for evaluation of the brain tumor risk from RF-EMF. METHODS: All nine issues on causation according to Hill were evaluated. Regarding wireless phones, only studies with long-term use were included. In addition, laboratory studies and data on the incidence of brain tumors were considered. RESULTS: The criteria on strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, and biologic gradient for evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma were fulfilled. Additional evidence came from plausibility and analogy based on laboratory studies. Regarding coherence, several studies show increasing incidence of brain tumors, especially in the most exposed area. Support for the experiment came from antioxidants that can alleviate the generation of reactive oxygen species involved in biologic effects, although a direct mechanism for brain tumor carcinogenesis has not been shown. In addition, the finding of no increased risk for brain tumors in subjects using the mobile phone only in a car with an external antenna is supportive evidence. Hill did not consider all the needed nine viewpoints to be essential requirements. CONCLUSION: Based on the Hill criteria, glioma and acoustic neuroma should be considered to be caused by RF-EMF emissions from wireless phones and regarded as carcinogenic to humans, classifying it as group 1 according to the IARC classification. Current guidelines for exposure need to be urgently revised.

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 typereview

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · long-term use (studies with long-term use included)

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using Bradford Hill viewpoints, the authors report that criteria including strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, and biologic gradient were fulfilled for an increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma with long-term wireless phone use. The authors conclude these tumors should be considered caused by RF-EMF from wireless phones and argue RF-EMF should be classified as IARC Group 1, with exposure guidelines urgently revised.

Outcomes measured

brain tumors
glioma
acoustic neuroma
brain tumor incidence
reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation/biologic effects (laboratory evidence)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone, cordless phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term use (studies with long-term use included)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "brain tumors",
    "glioma",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "brain tumor incidence",
    "reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation/biologic effects (laboratory evidence)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using Bradford Hill viewpoints, the authors report that criteria including strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, and biologic gradient were fulfilled for an increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma with long-term wireless phone use. The authors conclude these tumors should be considered caused by RF-EMF from wireless phones and argue RF-EMF should be classified as IARC Group 1, with exposure guidelines urgently revised.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "wireless phones",
    "mobile phones",
    "cordless phones",
    "Bradford Hill criteria",
    "glioma",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "IARC",
    "WHO",
    "carcinogenicity",
    "brain tumor incidence",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "antioxidants"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Discusses IARC/WHO 2011 evaluation and argues for reclassification and guideline revision."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1515/reveh-2013-0006
PubMed: 24192496

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