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A study from the Institute of
Environmental Medicine (IMM) at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, found that 10
or more years of mobile phone use increase the risk of acoustic neuroma and
that the risk increase was confined to the side of the head where the phone
was usually held. No indications of an increased risk for less than 10 years
of mobile phone use were found.
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At the time when the study was
conducted only analogue (NMT) mobile phones had been in use for more than 10
years, and therefore we cannot determine if the results are confined to use of
analogue phones, or if the results would be similar also after long term use
of digital (GSM) phones.
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In close collaboration with the
clinics where these patients are treated all new patients with acoustic
neuroma were identified during a three year period in certain parts of Sweden.
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Persons without the disease were
randomly selected from the population registry (controls). A nurse contacted
all patients and controls and asked them if they wanted to participate in the
study. All who agreed participated in a personal interview where detailed
questions were asked about their mobile phone use and other issues of
importance for the study.
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A total of about 150 acoustic
neuroma patients and 600 healthy controls participated in the study. The risk
of acoustic neuroma was almost doubled for persons who started to use their
mobile phone at least 10 years prior to diagnosis.
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When the side of the head on which
the phone was usually held was taken into consideration, we found that the
risk of acoustic neuroma was almost four times higher on the same side as the
phone was held, and virtually normal on the other side.
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Acoustic neuroma is a benign
tumour on the auditory nerve that usually grows slowly over a period of years
before it is diagnosed. It occurs in less than one adult per 100,000 per year.
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This is the first report from the
Swedish part of the so called INTERPHONE study, an international collaboration
coordinated by WHO’s cancer research institute, IARC (International Agency
for Research on Cancer).
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The Swedish results need to be
confirmed in additional studies before firm conclusions can be drawn.
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Other centers within the
INTERPHONE study where a sufficient number of long term mobile phone users can
be included – primarily the Nordic – will contribute valuable data.
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This Swedish study, and eventually
other INTERPHONE reports, will be reviewed by the scientific community and a
coherent evaluation will gradually emerge. It can also be expected that these
results will stimulate experimental research which will also contribute
information of importance for the interpretation of the findings.
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The study was funded by the
European Union Fifth Framework Program, ”Quality of Life and Management of
living Resources” (contract QLK4-CT-1999-01563), the Swedish Research
Council, and the International Union against Cancer (UICC).
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The UICC received funds for this
purpose from the Mobile Manufacturers’ Forum and GSM Association. Provision
of funds to the INTERPHONE study investigators via the UICC was governed by
agreements that guaranteed INTERPHONE’s complete scientific independence.
These agreements are publicly available at http://www.iarc.fr/pageroot/UNITS/RCA4.html.
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For further information contact:
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Associate professor Maria
Feychting Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
Stockholm, Sweden Tel. +46 8 524 874 65
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Professor Anders Ahlbom Institute
of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm Center for
Public Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Tel. +46 8 524 874 70
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Reference: Lönn S, Ahlbom A, Hall
P, Feychting M. Mobile phone use and the risk of acoustic neuroma.
Epidemiology 2004;15:653-9. Savitz DA. Mixed signals on cell phones and
cancer. Commentary. Epidemiology 2004;15:651-2.
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Source: Institute
of Environmental Medicine (IMM) at the Karolinska institutet, Stockholm
Press Release 13 Oct 2004
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Cell phone use and acoustic neuroma, a benign tumour
