Cell Phones and Brain Tumors, Cancer Risks & New Warnings

The debate over whether or not cell phone use is linked to greater risks of brain tumors or other cancers has raged on for over a decade now. Much of the debate is based on the substantial differences in the findings of studies funded by the cell phone industry and the findings of studies conducted independent of the cell phone industry.

Early on the cell phone industry found a way to manipulate the findings of studies funded by governments by agreeing to finance studies in cooperation with governmental agencies. By so doing, they were able to influence the control standards of the cell phone studies and thereby the resulting findings.

The largest international study known as the Interphone Study was the result of these efforts, and that controversial collectively and in its many parts has received much attention over the last decade since it was commenced. Though its final findings were expected by 2005, the total results have long been delayed. Some involved in the study cite differing interpretations of the cell phone study’s findings, and some suggest that the study’s results should never be published, and that the study itself was so inherently flawed that it’s findings are useless.

It turns out that much to everyone’s amazement, according to what has been published so far of the Interphone studies, cell phone use actually protects users from developing brain tumors. As one professor put it, “So immediately it tells you there’s something wrong here, there’s a problem here.” So said Professor Armstrong after the results of his Australian Interphone study were made public.

The problem is the 11 Interphone study design flaws which so weighted the study to give the results desired by the cell phone industry. These design flaws produced findings so insupportable that it is understandable why total reporting of the study’s findings has been so long delayed and debated, and why some involved in the study would prefer that they never be published.

The flaws include such things as exclusion of many types of applicable cancer, exclusion of cases wherein the study sample died or was too ill to be personally interviewed, and exclusion of children altogether although young users of cell phones may be at the greatest risk of all.

Lack of sufficient period of use was also a problem. While five years of use or even ten years of cell phone usage may not present greatly increased risks of cancer or brain tumor development, twenty and thirty years worth of use, not to mention fifty, sixty or more years worth of cell phone use as may be expected, will have much greater confirmed occurrences. This is also true with other cancer causing carcinogens, such as cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure. The latency time in the Interphone study was insufficient.

Additionally the Interphone study did include surveys of body parts that wouldn’t be affected by cell phone usage rather than a focus on those which would. In this way, by including the findings that cell phone use has no impact on pancreatic cancer, they are able to give less alarming rates of occurrence.

Another major flaw in the study was that the control group included all non-users of cell phones, but the truth is that users of cordless phones, ham radios and walkie-talkies are exposed to the same types of damaging radiation. During the time period of the study, more people used cordless phone technology than used cell phones themselves. The Interphone study gave this no consideration.

Low requirements of cell phone usage also contributed to doubtful results from the Interphone study. An occasional user will of course not have much of an increased risk, unlike heavy users, or even moderate users who keep the phone on, and on their person, for a much greater percentage of the day.

All of these Interphone study design flaws combine to create a report both inherently and seemingly purposely biased to give misleading findings. This is further supported by the difference between the findings of the Interphone studies and the findings of independent studies on links between cell phone usage and increased risks of brain tumors and cancer.

Independent studies found greatly increased risks of brain tumors, shown damningly to occur on whichever side of the head a particular cell phone user generally held his phone on. The same was true with increased risks of cancerous tumors in the ears. Independent studies have also shown a substantially increased risk of cancer of the salivary glands, and a higher risk for both cell phone users and digital (cordless) phone users in rural areas.

Testicular cancer is also an issue, and studies have shown not only an increased risk of testicular cancer related to cell phone usage, but also decreased sperm counts as well. The findings indicated that the testicular cancer would develop on the side which the cell phone user was prone to carry his cell phone in his pocket.

It has also been shown that a disturbingly higher rate of risk exists for children and young adults. Contemporary surveys indicate that over 50% of children today have their own cell phones, and are using them heavily. These findings shouldn’t be ignored.

Increasingly available Wi-Fi services operate on the same radiation technology, and are also a very serious concern. Like second hand smoke, it affects everybody in the vicinity and not just the user. Yet schools, universities, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other public facilities are unwittingly promoting this technology.

An estimated 270 millions Americans currently use cell phones, digital phones and/or Wi-Fi services. This is a potential health care crisis waiting to happen.

The recently published report Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons to be Concerned has been a joint project by an international collaborative, and is being endorsed by an increasing amount of prominent scientists and doctors, and scientific and medical associations. According to Lloyd Morgan, one of the report’s authors, “Exposure to cellphone radiation is the largest human health experiment ever undertaken, without informed consent, and has some 4 billion participants enrolled. Science has shown increased risk of brain tumors from use of cellphones, as well as increased risk of eye cancer, salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. The public must be informed.”

They’ve published this report in anticipation of the long awaited publishing of the findings of the Interphone study, which they say will greatly under-estimate the risks of cell phone usage. The report has been sent to government officials and news media outlets to spread their message.

The report lists 15 reasons for concern and 11 flaws in the design of the industry funded Interphone study. It also makes suggestions as to precautions that should be taken by the industry, the consumer, and by the state, and expresses the need for continuing research.

Among the stated reasons for concern are the Interphone study's bias, the increased risks found by that study despite its bias, the findings of independent studies, concern for the greater risks experienced by children -whose brains absorb radiation faster than the brains of adults. Also listed among their concerns is the fact that other nations' governments have found cause enough to issue warnings and legislation to halt the marketing of cell phones to children.

The fact that cell phone radiation damages DNA, which is known to cause cancer, and the cell phone industry's peculiar attempts to deny these findings, is concern #11. Leaking of the Blood-Brain Barrier, the understatement of the cell phone industry's own warnings, FCC findings regarding cordless phones and the degenerative effect on male fertility also make the list.

Senator Arlen Specter, D.- PA, hosted a hearing in the early fall of 2009, during which experts gave testimony to urge legislators to acknowledge their concerns based on research findings thus far and to support further research. Dr. Devra Lee Davis suggested a one dollar a year tax on cell phone service to fund such efforts, and urged for greater warning requirements on cell phone purchases. It is unfortunate that the only legislators to stay for the entire session were Senator Specter himself and Senator Tom Harkin, D.-IA.

During the hearing Linda Erdreich offered some argument against the need for concern. She is the senior managing scientist at Exponent in New York. Pointing out that a definitive link has not been proven, she also admitted that a link had not been disproved either.

Dr. Davis asked “Do we insist that the only evidence we accept is when we have enough sick and dead children?” She added “I hope that's not the case.”

Senator Specter seemed to agree that further research was called for. “What comes through to me is we just don't know what the answer is,” he noted, agreeing as well that “Precautions are not a bad idea.”

But oddly enough, we aren't hearing any.

While more research is certainly something the authors of the Cell Phones and Brain Tumors report are advocating, they aren’t suggesting that people give up on cell phone technology. Practical tips are suggested for individual users to decrease any risks of cancer or other health related issues which might yet prove to be associated with cell phone usage. However, as epidemiology Professor Devra Lee Davis points out, for many people the dependence on cell phone use has become so common that people may have some trouble changing their ways. “Cell phones are very convenient. They save lives and have revolutionized our ability to respond to emergencies,” she says. "The idea that the same thing that has made life so comfortable might include a risk is not something anybody wants to think about."

Nonetheless, here are some suggestions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the potential dangers of cell phone use. It can’t hurt to utilize some practical advice until the final verdict on links between cell phones, brain tumors and other cancers has come in.

Keep in mind that constant use of a Bluetooth device emits radiation to your brain.

Use wired headsets instead of Bluetooth devices for heavy cell phone use.

Digital cordless phones use the same technology as cell phones. Reinstall phones with cords in your home, and particularly in your teenagers’ rooms.

Explain the potential risks to your children, and ask them to limit their cell phone use.

Be aware that children use their cell phones to text late at night, and will often fall asleep with their cell phones in bed with them. Teach them to turn the cell phones off.

The same habits, concerns and advice applies to adults as well.

Text whenever possible to cut down on your overall exposure.

Cell phones come with warnings to keep the devices away from your body at all times. Naturally, no one ever really reads the warnings or takes them seriously. Cell phones should not be held against the ear, or carried in a pocket, but should be held at least an inch away from the body at all times. Cell phone holsters can help to maintain this desired distance.

Digital phones and their docking stations should also be kept at a distance, as warned by the FCC.

Wi-Fi services are based on the same technology. Eliminate or reduce your Wi-Fi usage.