Mobile phone cancer link in doubt
21 October 2011
No clear evidence of a link between mobile phones and brain cancer has been found in the largest study to date tracking a group of people over time.
Researchers found, in an 18-year study examining almost 360,000 Danish mobile phone subscribers, a total of 10,729 cases of tumours of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), but the incidence among subscribers was comparable to that among non-subscribers (BMJ 2011; 343: d6387).
Even when restricted to those with phone contracts spanning more than 10 years, there was little difference in the rate of incidence of glioma or meningioma for those exposed to phones compared to non-exposed individuals.
There was no indication of a relationship between mobile phone 'dose' and tumours, for either duration of subscription or tumour location (with respect to where the handset is usually held), the authors said.
An accompanying editorial said the study should be seen in the context of the largely negative body of literature, although the Interphone study conducted across 14 countries found an increased risk of cancer among the highest users of mobile phones (BMJ 2011; 343: d6605).
Last Reviewed: 21 October 2011
- 1. Frei P, Poulsen AH, Johansen C, et al. Use of mobile phones and risk of brain tumours: update of Danish cohort study. BMJ 2011; 343: d6387. [Epub 20 Oct 2011.] doi: 10.1136/bmj.d6387. http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d6387 (accessed Oct 2011).
2. Ahlbom A, Feychting M. Mobile telephones and brain tumours [editorial]. BMJ 2011; 343: d6605. [Epub 20 Oct 2011.] doi:10.1136/bmj.d6605. http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d6605.extract (accessed Oct 2011).
