Epidemiological study (observational study)

[Incidence of cancer adjacent to a mobile telephone basis station in Westfalia] epidem.

Krebsinzidenz von Anwohnern im Umkreis einer Mobilfunksendeanlage in Westfalen - Interview-basierte Piloterhebung und Risikoschätzung

By: Eger H, Neppe F

Published in: Umwelt · Medizin · Gesellschaft 2009; 22 (1): 55-60

Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear

Journal

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A pilot study was conducted in Hennen, Germany, to investigate the cancer incidence adjacent to a mobile phone base station.

Further details

The mobile phone base station started operating in 1999. The hypothesis that the cancer incidences of the first period (01.01.2000 - 31.12.2004) and the second period (01.01.2005 - 30.06.2007) were similar should be proved. The observed cancer incidence was compared to the expected cancer incidence according to the Cancer Registry Saarland.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor
thyroid cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian carcinoma, melanoma
childhood brain/CNS tumor
other childhood cancer

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station
- residential

Assessment

list

Population

Group:
- men
- women
- children
Age: ≥ 10 years
Characteristics: residents of Hennen living within a radius of 400 m to a mobile phone base station
Observation period: 2000 - 2007
Study location: Germany (Hennen, suburb of Iserlohn, Westfalia)
Exclusion criteria: second residence

Study size

Type	Value
Total	1,283
Participants	627
Evaluable	575

Statistical analysis method:

Chi-square test

Results (acc. to author)

9 cancer cases were observed in the first period 2000 - 2004 and 14 cases in the period 2005 - June 2007 among residents living within a radius of 400 m to a mobile phone base station. The mean age of disease onset was 59.2 years in the first period and 59.3 years in the second period in comparison to the expected value of 66.4 years evaluated from the Saarland Cancer Registry. The authors concluded, that a statistically significant increase of cancer incidence was observed 5 years after the base station has been started operating.

Stewart A et al. (2012): Mobile telecommunications and health: report of an investigation into an alleged cancer cluster in Sandwell, West Midlands
Atzmon I et al. (2012): Cancer risks in the Druze Isifya Village: Reasons and RF/MW antennas
Buchner K et al. (2011): [Modification of clinically important neurotransmitters under the influence of modulated high-frequency fields - A long-term study under true-to-life conditions]
Dode AC et al. (2011): Mortality by neoplasia and cellular telephone base stations in the Belo Horizonte municipality, Minas Gerais state, Brazil
Meyer M et al. (2006): [Cellular telephone relay stations and cancer incidence]
Eger H et al. (2004): [Influence of proximity to mobile telephony transmitters on cancer incidence]
Wolf R et al. (2004): Increased incidence of cancer near a cell-phone transmitter station

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