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SAFETY
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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?
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.