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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 don t 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, gioma,
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.
11. 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
10 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
Section 13 : Health and Safety Information
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