ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: increased risk associated with use for 10 years

Lennart Hardell¹, Michael Carlberg², Fredrik Söderqvist³, Kjell Hansson Mild⁴, L. Lloyd Morgan⁵

¹ Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Örebro and Department of Natural Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
² Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
³ Department of Oncology, University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
⁴ National Institute for Working Life, Umeå and Department of Natural Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
⁵ Francisco Street, Berkeley, California, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr L Hardell
Department of Oncology, University Hospital, SE-701 85 Örebro, Sweden; lennart.hardell{at}orebroll.se

Aim: To evaluate brain tumour risk among long-term users of cellular telephones.

Methods: Two cohort studies and 16 case–control studies on this topic were identified. Data were scrutinised for use of mobile phone for 10 years and ipsilateral exposure if presented.

Results: The cohort study was of limited value due to methodological shortcomings in the study. Of the 16 case–control studies, 11 gave results for 10 years’ use or latency period. Most of these results were based on low numbers. An association with acoustic neuroma was found in four studies in the group with at least 10 years’ use of a mobile phone. No risk was found in one study, but the tumour size was significantly larger among users. Six studies gave results for malignant brain tumours in that latency group. All gave increased odd ratios (OR), especially for ipsilateral exposure. In a meta-analysis, ipsilateral cell phone use for acoustic neuroma was OR = 2.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 5.3) and OR = 2.0, (1.2 to 3.4) for glioma using a tumour latency period of 10 years.

Conclusions: Results from present studies on use of mobile phones for 10 years give a consistent pattern of increased risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma. The risk is highest for ipsilateral exposure.

Abbreviations: DECT, digital enhanced cordless telecommunications; RF, radiofrequency; SIR, standardised incidence ratio; UMTS, universal mobile telecommunication system

Keywords: mobile phones; acoustic neuroma; glioma; ipsilateral exposure

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