Cellphones possibly cause cancer? Everybody panic!
The latest word from a World Health Organization panel, which has declared cellular phone use as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans, surely has captured the notice of even those who pay scant attention to the news.
However, dig down a few layers and the news becomes much less scary.
A little perspective and a lot more research is necessary on this topic. And nailing down the truth is a worthwhile pursuit given that more than 5 billion people worldwide use wireless phones.
On Tuesday, WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said data show heavy cellphone users are at higher risk of developing a rare brain tumor called a glioma.
The panel did not conduct any new research, instead relying on an analysis of existing studies.
Here’s a little more detail: Cellphone antennas, which typically are embedded in the device, emit radio waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation known as nonionizing radiation. While this type of radiation isn’t as strong as ionizing radiation — the kind in X-rays — that doesn’t mean it has no effect on human tissue.
At this point, however, there is no known biological mechanism that explains how nonionizing radiation can cause cancer. That’s one of the things that ought to be studied more.
The fact that there isn’t a clearly spelled out connection, however, shouldn’t preclude people from taking simple precautions if the research makes them uneasy.
The simplest is to use an ear piece instead of holding a phone to your head. The study cited by the WHO panel that was most worrisome identified a 40 percent increased risk for a glioma among those who used a mobile phone for more than 30 minutes a day over 10 years.
But even this needs to be put in perspective: Gliomas are still rare, and the risk for an individual is minimal.
Also, while there has been a huge increase over the last decade in the number of people who use cellphones, there has not been a corresponding increase in U.S. brain cancer rates.
Of course, using an ear piece has advantages beyond limiting exposure to nonionizing radiation. Anything that would help drivers talking on mobile phones keep their hands on the wheel would be a safety advance in its own right.
Meanwhile, it seems prudent to limit mobile phone use by children, whose developing brains could be affected differently by cellphone use.
The WHO panel, which is comprised of 31 scientists from 14 countries, has an impressive roster of professionals whose findings should not be brushed off lightly.
But it’s also important to look carefully at exactly what they’re saying and make informed decisions accordingly.
