June 01--New research is building more of a scientific foundation under a link between
cellular phone usage and the development of brain cancer.
It's no surprise to many in the medical community, said one UC Health
physician, but the general public should not meet developing research with
frenzy.
"There's no question it alters (brain) activity," said Dr. Philip
Theodosopoulos, a neurosurgeon with the University of Cincinnati Brain Tumor
Center and the Mayfield Clinic. "Whether it is carcinogenic or not, I think
that is still yet to be answered in a definitive way ... I don't think it
should be a cause for panic."
A carcinogen is an agent that leads to cancer.
In response to long-standing suspicion regarding the relationship between
cellphone usage and brain cancer, an international panel of experts recently
concluded cellphones are possibly carcinogenic to humans. The International
Agency for Research on Cancer -- an arm of the World Health Organization --
issued a statement Tuesday classifying cellphones in a category that includes
the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust.
The statement was issued in Lyon, France, by the IARC after a week-long
meeting of experts. They reviewed possible links between cancer and the type
of electromagnetic radiation found in cellphones, microwaves and radar.
The assessment now goes to WHO and national health agencies for possible
guidance on cellphone use.
Theodosopoulos, a Medical Advisory Board Member of the Acoustic Neuroma
Association, said earlier this year a study concluded it is possible to
modulate brain activity with a cellphone being on and next to a person's ear
without a person talking on the other end.
"It was surprising to many of us who didn't quite expect it would be that
evident -- that this kind of radio frequency cellphones emit would be
affecting brain activity and that we could see that," he said.
Still, more research is needed. Theodosopoulos said dangers found through
studies follow "extensive" cellphone use, which is difficult to measure.
Also, conclusions have come down on both sides of the issue,
Theodosopoulos noted.
Last year, results of a large study found no clear link between
cellphones and cancer. But some advocacy groups contend the study raised
serious concerns because it showed a hint of a possible connection between
very heavy phone use and glioma -- a rare but often deadly form of brain
tumor. However, the numbers in that subgroup weren't sufficient to make the
case.
The study was controversial because it began with people who already had
cancer who were asked to recall how often they used their cellphones more than
a decade ago.
In about 30 other studies done in Europe, New Zealand and the U.S.,
patients with brain tumors have not reported using their cellphones more often
than unaffected people.
Because cellphones are so popular, it may be impossible for experts to
compare cellphone users who develop brain tumors with people who don't use the
devices. According to a survey last year, the number of cellphone subscribers
worldwide has hit 5 billion, or nearly three-quarters of the global
population.
Butch Gordon of Hamilton said despite studies attempting to link
cellphone usage to cancer, he still uses his cellphone a lot, especially for
work.
"My cellphone today is a connection to work and friends," Gordon said.
"It seems like everything today causes cancer."
Gordon said simply the comparison of cellphone usage to DDT, the
synthetic pesticide banned in 1972 in the U.S., is "ridiculous."
Are cellphones less safe for children
As research continues to develop, Gordon said it won't affect the example
he sets for his children and grandchildren in terms of cellphone use.
On the converse, Theodosopoulos recommended limiting or suspending the
time cellphones are in the hands of children, whose skulls are not yet fully
formed.
"This kind of radiation could penetrate into an 8-year-old's skull so
much more than in (an adult's)," he said. "I think maybe it opens the doors to
say maybe we should research this and maybe we should stop giving every kid a
phone."
Since many cancerous tumors take decades to develop, experts say it's
impossible to conclude cellphones have no long-term health risks. The studies
conducted so far haven't tracked people for longer than about a decade.
Cellphones send signals to nearby towers via radio frequency waves, a
form of energy similar to FM radio waves and microwaves. But the radiation
produced by cellphones cannot directly damage DNA and is different from
stronger types of radiation like X-rays or ultraviolet light.
According to Cancer Research U.K., the only health danger firmly
connected to cellphones is a higher risk of car accidents. The group
recommends children under 16 only use cellphones for essential calls because
their brains and nervous systems are still developing.
Also, a recent U.S. National Institutes of Health study found that
cellphone use can speed up brain activity, but it is unknown whether that has
any dangerous health effects.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
-----
To see more of the Hamilton JournalNews or to subscribe to the newspaper, go
to http://www.journal-news.com .
Copyright (c) 2011, Hamilton JournalNews, Ohio
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com.