"Cell Phones and Cancer Risk Factors", composed by the senior leaders of the National Cancer Institute website was last updated May 27, 2016. The article transitions from the concerns of cell phone use to radio frequency, and finally how phone use can contribute to the formation of cancer.
The article first reviews the three top concerns: the emission of radio waves, the increase of overall cell phone users, as well as the increase of the amount of time using wireless phones. Then, diving right into radio frequency, the article explains radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation and its energy can be measured on the frequency of the radiation. High frequency radiation (high energy), such as x-rays can cause cancer, however there are inconsistent studies of low frequency radiation (low energy), such as microwaves and cell phones, causing cancer on the human body. The article goes on to explain the studies done on effects of radio frequency energy might affect glucose metabolism, but scientists concluded there are no established or consistent results.
Providing three epidemiology experiments, the article explains how the studies analyze the possible correlation of radio frequency energy and malignant brain tumors. Interphone is the first case-control study analyzed questionaries from study participants and concluded there was no substantial increase in brain or central nervous system cancers in people who devoted most of their time to their phones. The Danish Study, a cohort study, connected billing information to the phone subscribers with brain tumors; the end result was a lack of association between the two. Finally, The Million Women Study used questionaries from study participants as well and determined there was also no association of increased cancer from exposure of cell phone radiation energy. Ten other studies were briefly exposed, all of which said there was either no association, no increase of brain tumors, results were inconsistent, and brain cancer may be due to cell phone use at an early age.
According to the article, the results of the studies previously explained are inconsistent due to five possible reasons. When a participant provides information after their diagnosis of a disease, they may remember their cell phones differently than someone who has never had brain cancer, meaning their information lacks verifiable data and leads to recall bias. Inaccurate reporting is the result of a participant's inability to provide accurate data of themselves because they do not remember how much they really have been on their phone. There is also morbidity and morality among the participants with brain cancer; the participants who have survived may be impaired and not able to recall information correctly, otherwise those who have died will have family members may not provide the accurate amount of use of the participant that is deceased. Also participation bias, those with brain cancer may enroll in studies more regularly than those with no cancer, may lead to inconsistent data. Finally, there are changes in technology and methods of use, such as digital technology and texting; with texting, there is no reason to bring the phone up to the head and expose the brain to the radio frequency energy.
Through the findings and information from other credible sources, the article explains what experts conclude on all the experiments conducted. The experts said the information was inconsistent, there are possible malignant effects on the brain, more research needs to be conducted, and the scientific evidence is lacking. However, according to the article, there are studies underway, a cohort study named COSMOS began in 2010, enrolled almost 300,000 participants 18 and up to answer questionaries. The study will analyze their health conditions over the next decades.
The article proceeds to the question of if children are at higher risk due to their developing nervous system and smaller heads (the radio frequency energy can reach more are inside the brain). Studies were performed on children between the ages of 7 and 19 diagnosised with brain cancer, but there was no association between phone use and cancer. To be on the safe side though, the article provides ways to reduce radio frequency exposure, such as limiting phone calls on wireless phones or wearing wireless headsets to prevent bringing the phone to the head.
Lastly, the article concludes with providing another source of information if one wants to further their knowledge on cell phone radio frequency energy. The article also explains brain cancer is not that common, the rates have stayed consistent over the years but the risk does increase with age.
