Kritik av Folkhälsomyndighetens Miljöhälsorapport 2017 – nya rön ger ytterligare belägg för ökad cancerrisk av radiofrekvent strålning

Folkhälsomyndigheten drar i sin Miljöhälsorapport 2017 felaktigt slutsatsen att det inte finns några cancerrisker av exponering för radiofrekventa elektromagnetiska fält från t.ex. mobiler. Artikelförfattarna misstolkar publicerade resultat och utesluter studier som visar på risker. I motsats till rapporten finns klar evidens om ökad risk för gliom och acusticusneurinom varför denna typ av exponering nu bör klassas som cancerframkallande för människa. Vår kritik har publicerats i Medicinsk Access och kan läsas här.

Read Full Post »

Ny djurstudie om radiofrekvent strålning och cancer

Denna italienska studie visar ökad risk för cancer hos råttor som exponerats för radiofrekvent strålning. Den publicerades nyligen med titeln Report of final results regarding brain and heart tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed from prenatal life until natural death to mobile phone radiofrequency field representative of a 1.8 GHz GSM base station environmental emission i den vetenskapliga tidningen Environmental Research.

Studien startade år 2005 och innehöll totalt 2448 råttor. Dessa delades in i 4 olika grupper: ingen exponering (kontroller), exponering 5 V/m, 25 V/m eller 50 V/m.

Statistiskt signifikant ökad förekomst (incidens) av Schwannom (nervtumör) i hjärtat sågs hos hanråttor i den högsta exponeringsgruppen (50 V/m). I samma exponeringsgrupp sågs dessutom hyperplasi av Schwannceller hos både han- och honråttor, d.v.s. förstadier till Schwannom.

Ökad förekomst av gliacellstumörer i hjärnan sågs hos honråttor i den högsta exponeringsgruppen, dock inte statistiskt signifikant.

Schwannom är samma typ av tumör som acusticusneurinom (vestibular schwannoma) hos människa.

Resultaten är likartade som i NTP-studien. Det är dags för International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) att göra en ny utvärdering av cancerrisker av radiofrekvent strålning. Resultat från djurstudier, ökad incidens av gliom hos människa och ökad risk för gliom och acusticusneurinom hos personer som använder trådlösa telefoner gör sammantaget att strålningen bör klassas om cancerframkallande för människa.

Read Full Post »

National Toxicology Program (NTP) Radiofrequency radiation carcinogenesis in rats (NTP TR 595) and mice (NTP TR 596)

Denna djurstudie om cancerrisker av radiofrekvent strålning finns tillgänglig på internet här (NTP TR 595; råttor) och här (NTP TR 596; möss). Det har funnits möjlighet att skicka in kommentarer, vilket vi gjort. Det görs även en offentlig presentation och diskussion under tiden 26-28 mars, 2018.

Resultaten visar klart ökad risk för hjärntumör (gliom) och nervtumör (Schwannom) i hjärtat hos försöksdjur, se mer detaljer i vår rapport. Schwannom är samma typ av tumör som kan finnas i hörselnerven (vestibular Schwannoma, även kallad acusticusneurinom).

Dessa resultat stödjer alltså epidemiologiska studier som visar klart ökad risk för gliom och acusticusneurinom för personer som använder trådlösa telefoner.

Radiofrekvent strålning bör nu klassas som komplett cancerframkallande för människa, Grupp 1 enligt IARCs definition:

’This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. Exceptionally, an agent may be placed in this category when evidence of carcinogenicity in humans is less than sufficient but there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and strong evidence in exposed humans that the agent acts through a relevant mechanism of carcinogenicity.’ (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Preamble/currentb6evalrationale0706.php)

Read Full Post »

Interphone Canada redovisar fördubblad risk för hjärntumör (gliom) för användning av mobiltelefon

Resultat för hela Interphone publicerades 2010. För gruppen med högst sammanlagd användning av mobiltelefon, 1640 timmar eller mer påvisades statistiskt säkerställd riskökning för gliom, oddskvot 1,40 (95% konfidensintervall 1,03–1,89).  Detta motsvarar mindre än en halv timme om dagen under 10 år (27 minuter).

I Interphone ingick 13 länder och trots att avsikten var att alla länder skall redovisa sina resultat separat så har det inte blivit fallet. Kanada har nu redovisat sina resultat. Totalt ingick 170 fall med gliom (svarsfrekvens 63 %) och 653 kontrollpersoner (svarsfrekvens 56 %).  Dessutom ingick endast 94 fall med meningiom, 57 fall med spottkörteltumör och 84 fall med tumör på hörselnerven (acusticusneurinom). För kumulativ användning av mobiltelefon 558 timmar eller mer sågs fördubblad risk för gliom, oddskvot 2,0 (95 % konfidensintervall 1,2 – 3,4). Risken ökade något till oddskvot 2,2 (95 % konfidensintervall 1,3 – 4,1) om man justerade för metodfel (minnesfel, selektionsfel på grund av lågt deltagande). Risken är alltså högre än för hela Interphone. Användning av mobiltelefon 558 timmar motsvarar mindre än 10 min om dagen under 10 år.

Studien bekräftar alltså vår slutsats att trådlösa telefoner ökar risken för gliom, se Carlberg, Hardell 2017.

Read Full Post »

Tumör på hörselnerven, mobiltelefon och juridik i Italien

Ytterligare en person med tumör på hörselnerven (akusticusneurinom) efter långvarigt bruk av mobiltelefon (2-3 timmar dagligen under 10 år) får enligt domstolsbeslut i Italien ekonomisk ersättning från INAIL (The National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work). Detta historiska domslut har rapporterats i italienska media men knappast alls i andra länder. Googleöversättning till engelska av artiklar på italienska kan läsas här och här.

Read Full Post »

Rättsfall i Italien om tumör på hörselnerven och mobiltelefon

I en rättegång bedömdes tumör på hörselnerven (akustikusneurinom) ha orsakats av hög användning av mobiltelefon. Det är det andra rättsfallet i Italien där en nervtumör har ansetts vara orsakad av mobiltelefon varvid ekonomisk ersättning har utdömts. Detta är det första rättsfallet i världen där en hjärntumör anses ha orsakats av användningen av mobiltelefon. Referat av det aktuella fallet på italienska finns att läsa här (googleöversättning till engelska här), ytterligare artiklar på engelska här och här. Domslutet grundas delvis på våra studier, se det italienska referatet.

Read Full Post »

Nya analyser av data i Interphonestudien stärker sambandet mellan mobiltelefoner och hjärntumörer (gliom)

Interphone var en studie av risken för hjärntumörer hos personer som använder mobiltelefon. I studien ingick patienter med hjärntumör och kontrollpersoner ur befolkningen. Undersökningen pågick i 13 länder mellan 2000-2004, men de sammanlagda resultaten publicerades först 2010. Total användning av mobiltelefon > 1,640 timmar gav en ökad risk med oddskvot = 1.40, 95 % konfidensintervall =1,03–1,89, d.v.s. en statistiskt signifikant överrisk för gliom (typ av hjärntumör). Risken var högre i gruppen av personer med regelbunden användning av mobiltelefoner; oddskvot = 1.82, 95 % konfidensintervall =1,15–2,89. Även för tumör på hörselnerven (acusticusneurinom) sågs en ökad risk.

I Interphonestudien fanns åldersskillnad mellan fall och kontroller. Dessutom intervjuades patienterna och tillhörande kontroller vid olika tidpunkter, kontrollerna i regel senare är patienterna. Detta är problematiskt för mobiltelefoner med snabbt ökande användning i befolkningen. Kontrollpersonen som hör till patienten kan därigenom få en högre användning av mobiltelefon. Användningen är även beroende av ålder.

En ny analys av data i Interphone har gjorts för fem länder, Australien, Kanada, Frankrike, Israel, Nya Zeeland. Av oklar anledning har den svenska gruppen även denna gång valt att inte delta. I den nya analysen ingick patienter och kontroller så nära i ålder som möjligt och även intervjuade tidsmässigt så nära som möjligt. Sammanlagd användning > 1,640 timmar gav nu en ökad risk med oddskvot = 2.82, 95 % konfidensintervall =1,09–7.32, d.v.s. en statistiskt signifikant överrisk som är högre än den som ursprungligen publicerats. Sambandet mellan mobiltelefoner och gliom stärktes ytterligare.

IARC vid WHO utvärderade cancerrisken av radiofrekvent strålning i maj 2011. Slutsatsen blev – möjligen cancerframkallande för människa (hjärntumörer). Sedan dess har ytterligare studier stärkt sambandet. Det är därför angeläget att IARC gör en ny utvärdering av kunskapsläget.

Read Full Post »

Brev till WHO om radiofrekventa fält och risken för hjärntumörer

Det första utkastet till monografi om hälsoeffekter av radiofrekventa fält från WHO innehåller många sakfel som vi påpekat tidigare. Vi har nu påtalat detta på nytt och skickat till WHO brev enligt nedan. IARC har fått samma brev med begäran om ny utvärdering av cancerrisker.

 

 

World Health Organization                                                              4 August, 2015

 

Dr Margaret Chan, Director General

World Health Organization

Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27

Geneva, Switzerland

 

Emelie van Deventer, Team Leader

Radiation Programme Department of Public Health,

Environmental and Social Determinants of Health,

World Health Organization

Geneva, Switzerland

 

Dear Ms. Margaret Chan

Dear Ms. Emelie van Deventer

 

Further Comments on the WHO draft: Radio Frequency fields: Environmental Health Criteria Monograph

On 15 December, 2014 we submitted comments on the WHO draft on radio frequency fields and health. Since we have not got a satisfactory reply from WHO, not seen a revision of the draft, and adding to that more published studies that reinforce the increased risk for certain brain tumours associated with use of wireless phones we want to submit the following, additional comments.

The brain is the primary target organ for exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) during the use of the handheld wireless phone. This has given concern of an increased risk for brain tumours. The carcinogenic effect of RF-EMF on humans was evaluated at a meeting during 24 – 31 May 2011 at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO in Lyon, France. One of us (LH) was part of the expert group. The Working Group categorised RF-EMF from mobile phones, and from other devices that emit similar non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the frequency range 30 kHz–300 GHz, as a Group 2B, i.e. a possible, human carcinogen (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol102/mono102.pdf).

Since then more studies have been published that strengthen the association between use of wireless phones (mobile and cordless phones) and increased risk for brain tumours. We have performed long-term research in this area and in the following we give a short up-dated summary of our findings based on research since the 1990’s. In our publications relevant information can be found also on other studies, as well as discussions of the current scientific evidence.

Glioma:

Glioma is a malignant brain tumour (“brain cancer”), and the most common type is glioblastoma multiforme with a poor prognosis. We have published a statistically significant increased risk for glioma among users of both mobile and cordless phones. The risk increased with latency (time from first use of the phone until tumour diagnosis) and cumulative number of hours for use. Highest risk was found in the area of the brain with highest exposure to RF-EMF. All these results are of biological relevance; that is what would be expected for a causal association. The full paper can be read here:

http://www.pathophysiologyjournal.com/article/S0928-4680(14)00064-9/pdf

Meningioma:

Menigioma is mostly a benign brain tumour and accounts for about 30 % of all intracranial tumours. The incidence is approximately 2-times higher in women than in men. No conclusive evidence of an association between use of mobile and cordless phones and meningioma was found in our study. However, taking the long latency periods that have been reported for the increased meningioma risk associated with exposure to ionizing radiation it is still too early to make a definitive risk assessment. Results for even longer latency periods of wireless phone use than in our study are desirable, see more details here:

http://www.spandidos-publications.com/or/33/6/3093

Acoustic neuroma:

Acoustic neuroma or Vestibular Schwannoma is a rare benign tumour in the eighth cranial nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. It grows slowly and does not undergo malignant transformation, but may give compression of vital brain stem centres. Tinnitus and hearing problems are usual first symptoms of acoustic neuroma. We published a clear, statistically significant, association between use of mobile and cordless phones and acoustic neuroma. The risk increased with time since first use. For use of both mobile and cordless phones the risk was highest in the longest latency group. Tumour volume increased per 100 hours of cumulative use and year of latency for wireless phones indicating tumour progression from RF-EMF. The whole study can be read here:

http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijo/43/4/1036

Brain tumour prognosis:

A causal association would be strengthened if use of wireless phones has an impact on the survival of glioma patients. We analyzed survival of 1,678 glioma patients in our case-control studies 1997-2003 and 2007-2009. Use of wireless phones in the > 20 years latency group (time since first use) yielded increased hazard ratio (HR) = 1.7, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.3 for glioma, i.e. decreased survival. Increased HR was found for use of both mobile and cordless phones. Highest HR was found for cases with first use before the age of 20 years. These results strengthen a causal association between use of wireless phones and glioma. The publication can be read here:

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/10/10790

Risk in different age groups of first use:

In our glioma study we found highest risk for subjects with first use of mobile or cordless phone before the age of 20, see Table 8 in the publication:

http://www.pathophysiologyjournal.com/article/S0928-4680(14)00064-9/pdf

We published similar results for acoustic neuroma and use of mobile phones, see Table 21.2:

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.433.7480&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Children and adolescents are more exposed to RF-EMF than adults due to thinner skull bone, higher conductivity in the brain tissue, and a smaller head. The developing brain is also more vulnerable than in adults and it is still developing until about 20 years of age. The finding of higher risk in young persons is worrying, not the least due to the high prevalence of use of wireless phones in children and adolescents.

Brain tumour incidence:

It is not correct to claim that the incidence of brain tumours has not increased in the Scandinavian countries. The age-standardized incidence of brain tumours increased dramatically in Denmark with +41.2 % among men and +46.1 % among women during 2003-2012 (http://www.ssi.dk/Aktuelt/Nyheder/2013/~/media/Indhold/DK – dansk/Sundhedsdata og it/NSF/Registre/Cancerregisteret/Cancerregisteret 2012.ashx).

Due to the well-known under-reporting of brain tumours to the Swedish Cancer Registry we studied brain tumour rates using the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Causes of Death Register (see http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/4/3793/htm ). In summary we found a statistically significant increasing rate of not specified brain tumours from 2007 in the Inpatient Register and from 2008 in the Causes of Death Register. Our study indicated that several of these tumours were never reported to the Swedish Cancer Register. The results are in accordance with a reasonable latency period for use of wireless phones, e.g. mobile phones, see Figures 5 and 6 in our publication. Thus, the Swedish Cancer Register data cannot be used to dismiss an increased risk for brain tumours associated with use of wireless phones. On the contrary our study is consistent with an association considering a reasonable tumour induction period.

Mechanistic aspects:

– Reactive oxygen species:

RF-EMFs do not cause direct DNA damage. On the other hand numerous studies have shown generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause oxidative damage of DNA. This is a well-known mechanism in carcinogenesis for many agents. The broad biological potential of ROS and other free radicals makes radiofrequency radiation a potentially hazardous factor for human health, not only cancer risk but also other health effects. A recent update can be read here:

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2015.1043557

-Tumour promotion:

Tumour promotion by RF-EMF exposure was reported in 2010 in a study on mice: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20545575. These findings were recently replicated and add to the relevance of tumour risk: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25749340

-p53:

The p53 protein is a transcription factor that plays a vital role in regulating cell growth, DNA repair and apoptosis, and p53 mutations are involved in disease progression. In a recent study it was found that use of mobile phones for ≥3 hours a day was associated with increased risk for the mutant type of p53 gene expression in the peripheral zone of astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme), and that this increase was statistically significant correlated with shorter overall survival time:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4178273/

 These results are in agreement with the decreased survival for patients with astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) associated with long-term use of mobile phones and cordless phones that we reported in 2014, see above the section on prognosis.

Causality:

To further evaluate strengths of evidence Sir Austin Bradford Hill wrote in the 1960’s a famous article on association or causation at the height of the tobacco and lung cancer controversy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1898525/pdf/procrsmed00196-0010.pdf

Hill offered a list of nine aspects of an association to be considered when deciding if an association is causal. However, he did not request all nine viewpoints to be fulfilled for causality. We used the Hill criteria to evaluate the causality on brain tumour risk from RF-EMF emitted from wireless phones. We concluded that based on the Hill criteria, glioma and acoustic neuroma should be considered to be caused by RF-EMF emissions from wireless phones and regarded as carcinogenic to humans, classifying it as Group 1 according to the IARC classification. See more here:

http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/reveh.2013.28.issue-2-3/reveh-2013-0006/reveh-2013-0006.xml

Conclusion:

Our results are in agreement with other studies such as the international Interphone study and the French CERENAT study. This is discussed in more detail in e.g. our article on glioma risk, see also:

http://www.pathophysiologyjournal.com/article/S0928-4680(12)00110-1/pdf

The so called Danish cohort study on mobile phone users has been taken as evidence of no risk. However, the many shortcomings as reviewed elsewhere makes the study inconclusive regarding assessment of cancer risk. It should not be cited as evidence of no risk, for more details see: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/reveh.2012.27.issue-1/reveh-2012-0004/reveh-2012-0004.xml?format=INT

In summary there is consistent evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma associated with use of mobile phones and cordless phones. Furthermore, the risk is highest for persons with first use before the age of 20, which is of special concern. Our conclusion is that RF-EMF should be regarded as a human carcinogen. The IARC classification should be updated to at least Group 2A, a probable human carcinogen. Current guidelines for exposure need to be urgently revised. The WHO Monograph draft on this issue is based on selective inclusion of studies and wrong assessment of the evidence of increased risk. Thus the Danish cohort study on mobile phone users and the Swedish Cancer Register data cannot be used as evidence of no increased risk. It is important that the public and decision makers are given correct information about the cancer risk so that they can make decisions based on correct data and take precautions. Otherwise there is an obvious risk of forthcoming increasing impairment of human health and increasing numbers of cancer in the population. We anticipate correction of the Monograph and your reply to this letter no later than 15 September, 2015. If you so wish our research group may of course give a presentation at WHO on this topic.

Yours sincerely,

 

Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD

Department of Oncology

University Hospital

SE-701 85 Örebro

Sweden

 

Michael Carlberg, MSc

Department of Oncology

University Hospital

SE-701 85 Örebro

Sweden

Read Full Post »

Brev till New York Times

Ms. Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor                                       July 24, 2015

Ms. Carol Pogas, Reporter

 

The New York Times

Regarding: Cellphone Ordinance Puts Berkeley at Forefront of Radiation Debate http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/us/cellphone-ordinance-puts-berkeley-at-forefront-of-radiation-debate.html?_r=0

Published online July 21, 2015

Dear Ms. Sullivan and Ms. Pogas,

We have read this article in the New York Times with interest. However, there are several mistakes, and even wrong statements, on the health hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from cell phones in the article. In the following we want to correct some of the false statements.

The brain is the primary target organ for exposure to RF-EMF during the use of the handheld wireless phone. This has given concern of an increased risk for brain tumours. The carcinogenic effect of RF-EMF on humans was evaluated at a meeting during 24 – 31 May 2011 at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO in Lyon, France. One of us (LH) was part of the expert group. The Working Group categorised RF-EMF from mobile phones, and from other devices that emit similar non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the frequency range 30 kHz–300 GHz, as a Group 2B, i.e. a possible, human carcinogen (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol102/mono102.pdf).

Since then more studies have been published that strengthen the association between use of  wireless phones (mobile and cordless phones) and increased risk for brain tumours. We have performed long-term research in this area and in the following we give a short up-dated summary of our findings based on research since the 1990’s. In our publications relevant information can be found also on other studies, as well as discussions of the current scientific evidence.

Glioma:

Glioma is a malignant brain tumour (“brain cancer”), and the most common type is glioblastoma multiforme with a poor prognosis. We have published a statistically significant increased risk for glioma among users of both mobile and cordless phones. The risk increased with latency (time from first use of the phone) and cumulative number of hours for use. Highest risk was found in the area of the brain with highest exposure to RF-EMF. All these results are of biological relevance; that is what would be expected for a causal association. The full paper can be read here: http://www.pathophysiologyjournal.com/article/S0928-4680(14)00064-9/pdf

Meningioma:

Meningioma is mostly a benign brain tumour and accounts for about 30 % of all intracranial tumours. The incidence is approximately 2-times higher in women than in men. No conclusive evidence of an association between use of mobile and cordless phones and meningioma was found in our study. However, taking the long latency periods that have been reported for the increased meningioma risk associated with exposure to ionizing radiation it is still too early to make a definitive risk assessment. Results for even longer latency periods of wireless phone use than in our study are desirable, see more details here: http://www.spandidos-publications.com/or/33/6/3093

 Acoustic neuroma:

Acoustic neuroma or Vestibular Schwannoma is a rare benign tumour in the eighth cranial nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. It grows slowly and does not undergo malignant transformation, but may give compression of vital brain stem centres. Tinnitus and hearing problems are usual first symptoms of acoustic neuroma. We published a clear, statistically significant, association between use of mobile and cordless phones and acoustic neuroma. The risk increased with time since first use. For use of both mobile and cordless phones the risk was highest in the longest latency group. Tumour volume increased per 100 hours of cumulative use and year of latency for wireless phones indicating tumour progression from RF-EMF. The whole study can be read here: http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijo/43/4/1036

Brain tumour incidence:

It is not correct to claim that the incidence of brain tumours has not increased in the Scandinavian countries. The age-standardized incidence of brain tumours increased dramatically in Denmark with +41.2 % among men and +46.1 % among women during 2003-2012 (http://www.ssi.dk/Aktuelt/Nyheder/2013/~/media/Indhold/DK – dansk/Sundhedsdata og it/NSF/Registre/Cancerregisteret/Cancerregisteret 2012.ashx).

Due to the well-known under-reporting of brain tumours to the Swedish Cancer Registry we studied brain tumour rates using the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Causes of Death Register. In summary we found a statistically significant increasing rate of not specified brain tumours from 2007 in the Inpatient Register and from 2008 in the Causes of Death Register. Our study indicated that several of these tumours were never reported to the Swedish Cancer Register. Thus, the Swedish Cancer Register data cannot be used to dismiss an increased risk for brain tumours associated with use of wireless phones. On the contrary our study is consistent with an association considering a reasonable tumour induction period, see more here: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/4/3793

Mechanistic aspects:

It is correct that RF-EMFs do not cause direct DNA damage. On the other hand numerous studies have shown generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause oxidative damage of DNA. This is a well-known mechanism in carcinogenesis for many agents. The broad biological potential of ROS and other free radicals makes radiofrequency radiation a potentially hazardous factor for human health, not only cancer risk but also other health effects. A recent update can be read here: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2015.1043557

Causality:

To further evaluate strengths of evidence Bradford Hill wrote in the 1960’s a famous article on association or causation at the height of the tobacco and lung cancer controversy. Hill offered a list of nine aspects of an association to be considered when deciding if an association is causal. However, he did not request all nine viewpoints to be fulfilled for causality. We used the Hill criteria to evaluate the causality on brain tumor risk from RF-EMF emitted from wireless phones. We concluded that based on the Hill criteria, glioma and acoustic neuroma should be considered to be caused by RF-EMF emissions from wireless phones and regarded as carcinogenic to humans, classifying it as Group 1 according to the IARC classification. Current guidelines for exposure need to be urgently revised. See more here: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/reveh.2013.28.issue-2-3/reveh-2013-0006/reveh-2013-0006.xml

Conclusion:

Our results are in agreement with other studies such as the international Interphone study and the French so called CERENAT study. This is discussed in e.g. our article on glioma risk. In summary there is consistent evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma associated with use of mobile phones and cordless phones. Furthermore, the risk is highest for persons with first use before the age of 20, which is of special concern. Our conclusion is that RF-EMF should be regarded as a human carcinogen. The IARC classification should be updated to at least Group 2A, a probable human carcinogen. It is necessary to give the public correct information on the cancer risk. The precautionary principle should be used to minimize exposure to RF-EMF. Media have an important role to inform in a balanced way. Unfortunately this article in the New York Times is biased towards the no risk assumption. It should be corrected based on facts and not wishful thinking.

Yours sincerely,

 

Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD

Department of Oncology

University Hospital

SE-701 85 Örebro

Sweden

 

Michael Carlberg, MSc

Department of Oncology

University Hospital

SE-701 85 Örebro

Sweden

 

 

Read Full Post »

Radiofrekvent elektromagnetisk strålning bör betraktas som cancerframkallande för människa, Grupp 1

Den cancerframkallande effekten av radiofrekvent elektromagnetisk (RF-EMF) strålning utvärderades vid ett möte vid IARC (WHO) i Lyon, Frankrike den 24 till 31 maj 2011. Arbetsgruppens slutsats var att RF-EMF från mobiltelefoner och andra källor till ickejoniserande EMF är ’möjligen cancerframkallande’ för människan, Grupp 2B enligt grupperingarna vid IARC. Tyvärr har beslutet inte lett till några påtagliga nationella åtgärder för att minska strålningen eller ge allmänheten råd enligt försiktighetsprincipen. I motsats till utvärderingen sker nu en stadigt ökande exponering av allmänheten, till exempel införandet av trådlösa nätverk i skolor.

Efter mötet har ytterligare studier visat på ökad risk för hjärntumörer för personer som använder trådlösa telefoner, till exempel den så kallade CERENAT-studien från Frankrike. Vår nyligen publicerade studie om risken för gliom bekräftar ett samband mellan RF-EMF och hjärntumörer med störst risk för den mest elakartade varianten, glioblastom. Ökad risk för tumör på hörselnerven (acusticusneurinom) har publicerats av vår forskargrupp men även av andra forskargrupper.

Vi använde oss av de villkor som Hill använde sig av på 1960-talet för bedömning av samband eller orsak i epidemiologiska studier av rökning och lungcancer. Efter att utvärderat samtliga dessa villkor var vår slutsats att RF-EMF-exponering orsakar cancer, Grupp 1 enligt gruppering vid IARC. Senare studier har alltså styrkt detta.

Ett upprop ska skickas till IARC med begäran att RF-EMF ska anses orsaka cancer, Grupp 1. Den som önskar stödja detta upprop kan följa denna länk.

Read Full Post »