The Intracranial Distribution of Gliomas in Relation to Exposure From Mobile Phones: Analyses From the INTERPHONE Study

Abstract

When investigating the association between brain tumors and use of mobile telephones, accurate data on tumor position are essential, due to the highly localized absorption of energy in the human brain from the radiofrequency fields emitted. We used a point process model to investigate this association using information that included tumor localization data from the INTERPHONE Study (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Our main analysis included 792 regular mobile phone users diagnosed with a glioma between 2000 and 2004. Similar to earlier results, we found a statistically significant association between the intracranial distribution of gliomas and the selfreported location of the phone. When we accounted for the preferred side of the head not being exclusively used for all mobile phone calls, the results were similar. The association was independent of the cumulative call time and cumulative number of calls. However, our model used reported side of mobile phone use, which is potentially influenced by recall bias. The point process method provides an alternative to previously used epidemiologic research designs when one is including localization in the investigation of brain tumors and mobile phone use. glioma; INTERPHONE Study; intracranial distribution; mobile telephones; radio-frequency electromagnetic fields; spatial point pattern Abbreviations: RF-EMF, radio-frequency electromagnetic fields; SAR, specific absorption rate; TCSE, total cumulative specific energy.

Evaluation of Mobile Phone and Cordless Phone Use and Glioma Risk Using the Bradford Hill Viewpoints from 1965 on Association or Causation

“…The major results were published after a delay of 6 years in 2010 [2]. In a new publication the intracranial distribution of glioma in relation to RF radiation from mobile phones was analyzed [44]. Tumour localization for 792 regular mobile phone users was analyzed in relation to distance from preferred ear for mobile phone use.…”

“…The tumour volume was larger in glioma cases using wireless phones compared with nonusers. It should also be noted that α was higher in larger glioma tumours with shortest distance from preferred ear to tumour center which might be an effect of tumour promotion [44]. Several studies have shown an increasing incidence of glioma, especially glioblastoma multiforme in the temporal lobe.…”

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Carcinogenic and Other Biological Effects

“…In the INTERPHONE and some other studies, the risk of glioma tended to be higher in individuals who reported the usual MP use on the same side of the head as their tumors [40,41]. However, the ipsilateral effect found in low exposure groups suggested that patients might have over-reported the use of MPs on the tumor side (recall bias) [41,43]. Bias is known to occur in the epidemiologic research: the dose-dependent selection and selfselection, observation, participation, recall bias, etc.…”

“…In the large multicenter INTERPHONE study, no increase in the risk of glioma or meningioma was observed in MP users. There were suggestions of an elevated glioma risk at the highest exposure levels, but potential bias prevented a causal interpretation [41,43]. A re-analysis of Canadian data from the INTERPHONE study showed significant results for glioma; comparing the quartile with the highest MP use to those who were not regular users [odds ratio: 2.2 (95% limits: 1.3, 4.1)].…”

Adverse Effects of Wi-Fi Radiation on Male Reproductive System: A Systematic Review

“…The RF-EMR emitted from Wi-Fi transmitter involves whole body exposure (Wu et al 2010;Banaceur et al 2013) while mobile phone involves localized RF-EMR exposure (Ozorak et al 2013;Grell et al 2016;Jamaludin et al 2017). RF-EMR is classified as non-ionizing radiation and theoretically is unable to induce ionization of cellular atoms and molecules.…”