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absence of RF exposure. Other studies
exposed the animals to RF for up to 22
hours per day. These conditions are not
similar to the conditions under which
people use wireless phones, so we do not
know with certainty what the results of
such studies mean for human health. Three
large epidemiology studies have been
published since December 2000. Between
them, the studies investigated any possible
association between the use of wireless
phones and primary brain cancer, glioma,
meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors
of the brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or
other cancers. None of the studies
demonstrated the existence of any harmful
health effects from wireless phone RF
exposures. However, none of the studies
can answer questions about long-term
exposures, since the average period of
phone use in these studies was around
three years.
5. What research is needed to decide
whether RF exposure from wireless
phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and
epidemiological studies of people actually
using wireless phones would provide some
of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal
exposure studies could be completed in a
few years. However, very large numbers of
animals would be needed to provide
reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect
if one exists. Epidemiological studies can
provide data that is directly applicable to
human populations, but ten or more years
follow-up may be needed to provide
answers about some health effects, such
as cancer.
This is because the interval between the
time of exposure to a cancer-causing
agent and the time tumors develop — if
they do — may be many, many years. The
interpretation of epidemiological studies is
hampered by difficulties in measuring
actual RF exposure during day-to-day use
of wireless phones. Many factors affect
this measurement, such as the angle at
which the phone is held, or which model of
phone is used.
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