EMF-Portal | Mobile phones and malignant melanoma of the eye

Mobile phones and malignant melanoma of the eye epidem.

By: Johansen C, Boice Jr JD, McLaughlin JK, Christensen HC, Olsen J

Published in: Br J Cancer 2002; 86 (3): 348-349

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The incidence data of malignant melanoma of the eye was compared with information on the number of mobile phone subscribers in Denmark.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

(standardized incidence rate (SIR))

Exposure

Assessment

Type of assessment: Group

list: subscribers to mobile phone, list obtained from the National Board of Telecommuncation

Population

Group:

Characteristics: ocular malignant melanoma

Observation period: 1943 - 1996

Study location: Denmark

Data source: Danish Cancer Registry

Results (acc. to author)

The age-standardized incidence rates of malignant melanomas of the eye remained stable with small changes between 0.61 and 0.79 cases per 100 000 per year in the time period 1943 to 1996. No rising trend for malignant melanoma was observed in sharp contrast to the exponentially increasing number of mobile phone subscribers since 1982. The data of this study do not support the hypothesis for an association between mobile phones and malignant melanomas of the eye.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The period of use of mobile phones in Denmark is too short to detect long-term effects.

Study funded by

Danish Cancer Society

International Epidemiology Institute, Maryland, USA

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Mobile phones and malignant melanoma of the eye epidem.