Systematic review of wireless phone use and brain cancer and other head tumors
This paper published in Bio Electro Magnetics (Oct 2011) is a systematic review of scientific studies to evaluate whether the use of wireless phones is linked to an increased incidence of the brain cancer glioma or other tumors of the head (meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and parotid gland), originating in the areas of the head that most absorb radiofrequency (RF) energy from wireless phones.
The authors lead by Dr Michael Repacholi conclude:
We conducted a systematic review based on a pre-agreed methodology to assess whether a causal relationship has been established between the use of wireless phones and the brain cancer glioma and three other tumors originating in the areas of the head that most absorb the RF energy emitted by wireless phones. The results of the principal epidemiology studies, the Interphone Study and the studies by Hardell et al. are inconsistent. There are also insufficient data to make any determinations about risks for children and long-term use (≥10 years) by adults.
Both the in vivo and epidemiology studies that were accorded the most additional weight based on the quality assessment criteria by our independent evaluations found no consistent relationship between the brain cancer glioma or the other three head tumors and wireless phone use.
We also conducted a pooled analysis of all the in vivo tumor and tumor promotion studies and meta-analyses of all the epidemiology case–control and cohort studies (not according to any additional weight to any study based on the quality assessment criteria). Overall, those analyses were also consistent in finding no statistically significant relationship between brain cancers or head tumors and wireless phone use.
In summary, none of the Hill criteria support a causal relationship between wireless phone use and brain cancers or other tumors in the areas of the head that most absorb the RF energy from wireless phones. Accordingly, the conclusions and recommendations of WHO [2011] provide adequate protective measures, and the ICNIRP guidelines limiting exposure to RF fields [ICNIRP, 1998, 2009b] continue to provide a sound, science-based standard for public health policy regarding the use of wireless phones by adults.