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35
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 the 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 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
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.
5. What research is needed to
decide whether RF exposure
from wireless phones poses a
health risk?
Acombination 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