Safety
investigated any possible association between the use
of wireless phones and primary brain cancer, glioma,
meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or
salivary gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the
studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful health
effects from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none
of the studies can answer questions about long-term
exposures, since the average period of phone use in
these studies was around three years.
k What research is needed to decide whether
RF exposure from wireless phones poses a
health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological
studies of people actually using wireless phones would
provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime
animal exposure studies could be completed in a few
years. However, very large numbers of animals would be
needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting
effect if one exists. Epidemiological studies can provide
data that is directly applicable to human populations, but
10 or more years’ follow-up may be needed to provide
answers about some health effects, such as cancer. This
is because the interval between the time of exposure to
a cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop—if
they do—may be many, many years. The interpretation
of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in
measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of
wireless phones. Many factors affect this measurement,
such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which
model of phone is used.
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