Risks of carcinogenesis from electromagnetic radiation of mobile telephony devices

Exp Oncol · 2010 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6732

Study snapshot

PublicationExp Oncol · 2010

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Intensive implementation of mobile telephony technology in everyday human life during last two decades has given a possibility for epidemiological estimation of long-term effects of chronic exposure of human organism to low-intensive microwave (MW) radiation. Latest epidemiological data reveal a significant increase in risk of development of some types of tumors in chronic (over 10 years) users of mobile phone. It was detected a significant increase in incidence of brain tumors (glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma), parotid gland tumor, seminoma in long-term users of mobile phone, especially in cases of ipsilateral use (case-control odds ratios from 1.3 up to 6.1). Two epidemiological studies have indicated a significant increase of cancer incidence in people living close to the mobile telephony base station as compared with the population from distant area. These data raise a question of adequacy of modern safety limits of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure for humans. For today the limits were based solely on the conception of thermal mechanism of biological effects of RF/MW radiation. Meantime the latest experimental data indicate the significant metabolic changes in living cell under the low-intensive (non-thermal) EMR exposure. Among reproducible biological effects of low-intensive MWs are reactive oxygen species overproduction, heat shock proteins expression, DNA damages, apoptosis. The lack of generally accepted mechanism of biological effects of low-intensive non-ionizing radiation doesn't permit to disregard the obvious epidemiological and experimental data of its biological activity. Practical steps must be done for reasonable limitation of excessive EMR exposure, along with the implementation of new safety limits of mobile telephony devices radiation, and new technological decisions, which would take out the source of radiation from human brain.

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

PopulationHumans (mobile phone users; people living close to mobile telephony base stations)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · chronic; over 10 years (for mobile phone users)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The article summarizes epidemiological data reporting increased risk of certain tumors in long-term (over 10 years) mobile phone users, particularly with ipsilateral use (reported case-control odds ratios 1.3 to 6.1). It also notes two epidemiological studies reporting increased cancer incidence among people living close to mobile telephony base stations compared with more distant populations, and cites experimental findings of non-thermal biological effects (e.g., ROS, heat shock proteins, DNA damage, apoptosis).

Outcomes measured

Cancer/tumor risk
Brain tumors (glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma)
Parotid gland tumor
Seminoma
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction
Heat shock protein expression
DNA damage
Apoptosis
Metabolic changes in cells

Limitations

Narrative review summarizing multiple studies; no methods for study selection or quality appraisal described in the abstract
Specific exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, intensity) not provided in the abstract
Sample sizes and detailed study characteristics for cited epidemiological studies are not provided
Causal mechanisms described as not generally accepted

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "chronic; over 10 years (for mobile phone users)"
  },
  "population": "Humans (mobile phone users; people living close to mobile telephony base stations)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cancer/tumor risk",
    "Brain tumors (glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma)",
    "Parotid gland tumor",
    "Seminoma",
    "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction",
    "Heat shock protein expression",
    "DNA damage",
    "Apoptosis",
    "Metabolic changes in cells"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The article summarizes epidemiological data reporting increased risk of certain tumors in long-term (over 10 years) mobile phone users, particularly with ipsilateral use (reported case-control odds ratios 1.3 to 6.1). It also notes two epidemiological studies reporting increased cancer incidence among people living close to mobile telephony base stations compared with more distant populations, and cites experimental findings of non-thermal biological effects (e.g., ROS, heat shock proteins, DNA damage, apoptosis).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Narrative review summarizing multiple studies; no methods for study selection or quality appraisal described in the abstract",
    "Specific exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, intensity) not provided in the abstract",
    "Sample sizes and detailed study characteristics for cited epidemiological studies are not provided",
    "Causal mechanisms described as not generally accepted"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile telephony",
    "mobile phone",
    "base station",
    "microwave radiation",
    "RF/MW",
    "non-thermal effects",
    "carcinogenesis",
    "brain tumors",
    "glioma",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "meningioma",
    "parotid gland tumor",
    "seminoma",
    "ipsilateral use",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "DNA damage",
    "apoptosis",
    "heat shock proteins"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Discusses adequacy of modern safety limits and their basis on thermal mechanisms for RF/MW exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: 20693976

Read the original paper →

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