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repeated in other laboratories. A few animal studies, however,
have suggested that low levels of RF could Accelerate the
development of cancer in laboratory animals. However, many of
the studies that showed increased tumor development used
animals that had been genetically engineered or treated with
cancer-causing chemicals so as to be pre-disposed to develop
cancer in 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 don't know with certainty what 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, glaucoma, 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 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
threat?
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
Health and Safety Information
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