Can you get tumors from regular cell phone use?
This question is of concern to scientists and consumers alike.
In a report, the World Health Organization (WHO), through its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic”.
This classification applies not only to cell phones, but also to other sources of electromagnetic radiation such as radar systems and radio transmitters.
The decision is based on extensive studies that showed an increased risk of glioma – a malignant form of brain tumor – in heavy cell phone users.
Although the evidence was classified as “limited”, this report underlines the need for further research and precautionary measures.
In a world with over 5 billion cell phone users, this classification raises important questions about the long-term safety of our ubiquitous digital companions.
Further details of this groundbreaking study can be found in the original WHO publication.
New studies from California investigate the possible link between electromagnetic radiation and leukemia and brain tumors in children.
The results are mixed and raise questions.
A large-scale study that focused on power lines found a weak, non-significant link.
However, another study in Los Angeles, which also looked at power lines, reported a statistically significant increased risk.
The Los Angeles study indicates an increased risk of leukemia at magnetic field strengths above 0.125 μT.
This is below the value of 0.4 μT, which the World Health Organization had identified as the lower limit for an increased risk in an earlier meta-analysis.
Both studies have their own methodological strengths and weaknesses.
The different results show that further research is needed to better understand the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on children’s health.
