Painful Conversations: Fuss Over The Phone

To the sad conclusion a group of 31 experts world-class came after results published in the special conference organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In formally they presented their report notes that there are “some” evidence to suggest that mobile phones increase the risk of brain tumors by 40% – though only a “strong run down” of mobile phone users, conducting a conversation in at least half an hour every day for at least 10 years of age. And, to be more precise, it is only one form of the tumor, acoustic neuroma – usually, this tumor – benign.

Robert Baan (Robert Baan), a scientist from the IARC, said that mobile phone radiation is now included in the category 2B – along with about 240 other potentially carcinogenic for human factors, including talc, low-frequency radiation of high-voltage cables, and a whole bunch of pesticides, herbicides, dyes and cleaners.

“There is evidence of an increased risk of glioma or acoustic neuroma. However, uniquely clear connection between mobile phone use and cancer in humans is not shown, “- adds one of the WHO Expert Streiff, Kurt (Kurt Straif). Note that if the neuroma is observed relatively rarely, about 1 case per 100 thousand and approximately 6 -10% of all brain tumors, gliomas, which are more common (60%).

According to his colleagues Semeta Jonathan (Jonathan Samet), conclusions are made, for the most part, based on the results of two large international research projects. First – Interphone – took place in 1997-2004. and covered 13 countries. The project demonstrated an increased risk of glioma, but found no link between radiation from mobile phones with malignant tumors. The second study conducted by Swedish oncologist, headed by Lennart Herdellem (Lennart Hardell), which demonstrated that the active users of analog cell phones fourfold increased risk of acoustic neuroma (note that such devices have become obsolete, and today they are almost impossible to find on sale).

In short, all these data, there are many nuances of uncertainty and ambiguity. Moreover, all trying to figure out how did such a low level of radiation can lead to cancer, so far without success. It is not surprising that almost immediately began to sound and criticism made by WHO experts rigorous conclusions. Defensively, they stated that, of course, have managed to not only consider these two papers mentioned above, but also the vast array of information accumulated on the subject. According to Streiff, they covered all the available results, some of which were available to scientists in just a week before the conference. He said: “This is the first scientific evaluation of all available literature on the question of whether radiation contributes to cancer cell phones.”

However, the authors acknowledge that the ambiguity of the results here appears everywhere – even in such large and inclusive studies, the same draft as Interphone. Well, the question about what do you do the common man in connection with the new data, Streiff said that you can actively use SMS-messaging and voice headset that “reduce the influence of at least an order of magnitude.” According to scientists, the main concern now should go to the state structure, which stands to make recommendations and schemes of regulation of mobile communication, corresponding to more recent research data.