New article – radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) probable carcinogenic to humans, Group 2A

A group of international researchers published recently in Pathophysiology an updated evaluation of the carcinogenicity of RF-EMF. They concluded that it should be classified at least as a probable human carcinogen, Group 2A according to the classification system at the WHO IARC. The article was partly initiated by our recent summary in Pathophysiology.

The authors make also an estimate of the cost to treat brain tumours: “Given that treatment for a single case of brain cancer can cost between $100,000 for radiation therapy alone and up to $1 million depending on drug costs, resources to address this illness are already in short supply and not universally available in either developing or developed countries. Significant additional shortages in oncology services are expected at the current growth of cancer.”

They end the Abstract with “We note than brain cancer is the proverbial “tip of the iceberg”; the rest of the body is also showing effects other than cancers.”

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Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival and Prevalence in 2010

This is the title of a recent paper from Korea on national cancer statistics during 1999 to 2010. During that period the annual increase in the incidence of all cancer was 3.3 % (p<0.05) in both sexes. Some cancer types showed a declining trend whereas the incidence increased for others.

Notably a high increasing incidence of thyroid cancer was seen both in men and women, annually 24.8 % and 24.2 % respectively.

The incidence of tumours in the brain and nervous system increased annually 1.0 % (p<0.05) in men and 0.5 % in women. For both genders together the annual incidence increase was 0.8 % (p<0.05).

The article does not discuss the causes for the different cancer pattern over the years. Certain persons claim that there is no change in the incidence of brain tumours and thus use of wireless phones is not a risk factor. This article verifies that such statements are not correct.

New ecological study on the penetration of cellular telecommunications subscriptions shows a clear association with the higher incidence of brain and nervous system tumours

The incidence of brain tumours is increasing in several countries. In spite of that some scientists claim that based on these findings it is unlikely that the use of wireless telephones (mobile phones and cordless phones; DECT) gives and increased risk of brain tumours.

Interestingly, a new recently published study based on open-access databases finds that the only exogenous risk factor consistently associated with higher incidence of brain and nervous system tumours is the penetration rate of mobile phone subscriptions. These ecological results show latency between exposure and clinical onset of the disease of at least 11-12 years, but probably more than 20 years.

The findings are in accordance with the results by the Hardell group in Sweden and the WHO Interphone study on use of wireless phones (cordless phones not included in Interphone) and the risk of brain tumours. Using 10 years or more latency a statistically significantly increased risk was found for glioma and acoustic neuroma, types of brain tumours. An overview of these findings was recently published by the Hardell group.