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Chapter 10
These conditions are not similar to the conditions under which people use wire-
less 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, glioma, meningioma, or acous-
tic 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.
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 ac-
tually 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 measur-
ing 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.
For more information, please visit the FDA website at
http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/.