Mobile phone use and risk of intracranial tumors: A consistency analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis of studies on intracranial tumors and mobile phone use published by the end of 2012 was performed to evaluate the overall consistency of findings, assess the sensitivity of results to changes in the dataset, and try to detect the sources of between-study heterogeneity. Twenty-nine papers met our inclusion criteria. These papers reported on 47 eligible studies (17 on glioma, 15 on meningioma, 15 on acoustic neuroma), consisting of either primary investigations or pooled analyses. Five combinations of non-overlapping studies per outcome were identified. The combined relative risks (cRRs) in long-term mobile phone users (≥10 years) ranged between 0.98 (0.75-1.28) and 1.11 (0.86-1.44) for meningioma, with little heterogeneity across studies. High heterogeneity was detected across estimates of glioma and acoustic neuroma risk in long term users, with cRRs ranging between 1.19 (95% CI 0.86-1.64) and 1.40 (0.96-2.04), and from 1.14 (0.65-1.99) to 1.33 (0.65-2.73), respectively. A meta-regression of primary studies showed that the methodological differences embedded in the variable "study-group" explained most of the overall heterogeneity in results. Summary risk estimates based on heterogeneous findings should not be over-interpreted. Overall, the results of our study detract from the hypothesis that mobile phone use affects the occurrence of intracranial tumors. However, reproducibility (or lack of) is just one clue in the critical appraisal of epidemiological evidence. Based on other considerations, such as the limited knowledge currently available on risk beyond 15 years from first exposure, or following mobile phone use started in childhood, the pursuance of epidemiological surveillance is warranted.

Mobile phone radiofrequency exposure has no effect on DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in human lymphocytes

“…Among the great deal of investigations raised in recent years, at least one evidence seemingly emerged, consisting in the fact that the use of mobile phones for 10 years or longer may increase the risk of certain types of cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.18; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.04-1.34], whereas this association was mostly insignificant for normal mobile phone users compared to non-users (OR =0.98; 95% CI, 0.89-1.07) (6). Interestingly, two other recent meta-analyses concluded that long-term ipsilateral users of mobile phone have an increased risk of glioma (OR =1.46; 95% CI, 1.12-1.92) (7), whereas no significant association was found with meningioma [relative risk (RR), 0.98; 95% CI, 0.75-1.28] or acoustic neurinoma (RR =1.14; 95% CI, 0.65-1.99) in long-term mobile phone users (i.e., ≥10 years) (8). Indeed, experimental evidence was brought about potential genetic damage of RFs emitted by mobile phones in human cells (9).…”

Effects of combined radiofrequency field exposure on amyloid-beta–induced cytotoxicity in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurones

“…Many studies have shown that RF–electromagnetic fields (EMFs) negatively affect the brain. After the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RF-EMFs as a group 2B human carcinogen, it was reported that RF-EMFs from mobile and cordless phones were associated with the initiation and progression of malignant brain tumors [2, 3]. RF-EMFs may cause DNA damage in brain cells, which leads to altered gene expression, morphological change, and even cell death [4, 5].…”

Possible health risk of electromagnetic fields

“…assessed the intracranial tumors and cell phone use and they reported the occurrence of intracranial tumors. In addition, they stated the combined relative risk in long-term cell phone users (≥ 10 years) for meningioma 40 .…”