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a990.book Page 176 Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:37 PM
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 phones 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.
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.
176
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