Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile phones, cordless phones and the risk for brain tumours epidem.

Published in: Int J Oncol 2009; 35 (1): 5-17

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A pooled analysis of two previous case-control studies on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk of malignant and benign brain tumors was conducted in Sweden. Furthermore, the incidence rates of brain tumors during the time period of 1970 and 2007 were analyzed using the data of the Swedish Cancer Registry.

Further details

The first case-control study regarding the period 1997-2000 was published in the publications 9520 and 9895, the second study regarding the period 2000-2003 in publications 12068 and 12259. A pooled analysis on the malignant tumors is published in publication 13689 and on benign tumors in publication 13049.
Mobile phone use was defined as ipsilateral (≥ 50 % of the calling time) and as contralateral (< 50 %) in relation to tumor side.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Group 1 all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 2 all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 3 all age groups, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 4 all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 5 all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 6 all age groups, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 7 all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency
Group 8 all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 9 all age groups, mobile phone, > 10 year latency, contralateral
Group 10 all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency
Group 11 all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 12 all age groups, cordless phone, > 10 year latency, contralateral
Group 13 age at first exposure mobile phone < 20 years, > 1 year latency
Group 14 age at first exposure < 20 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 15 age at first exposure < 20 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 16 age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 17 age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 18 age at first exposure < 20 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 19 age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 20 age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 21 age at first exposure 20-49 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 22 age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 23 age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 24 age at first exposure 20-49 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 25 age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency
Group 26 age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 27 age at first exposure 50-80 years, mobile phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral
Group 28 age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency
Group 29 age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, ipsilateral
Group 30 age at first exposure 50-80 years, cordless phone, > 1 year latency, contralateral

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Participants 2,159 2,162
Participation rate 89 % 89 %
Other:

905 patients with malignant tumors and 1254 patients with benign tumors

Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

An association between the use of mobile phones or cordless phones and astrocytoma and acoustic neuroma was found. An increased risk was especially observed among persons who started the use of mobile phones before the age of 20 years, however based on low numbers. No association was observed for meningioma and other brain tumor types. The analysis of data of the Swedish Cancer Registry showed increasing incidence of astrocytoma during 2000-2007. A decreasing incidence rate of acoustic neuroma was found during the same time period.

Study funded by

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