Epidemiological evidence on health risks of cellular telephones

Authors
Citation
Kj. Rothman, Epidemiological evidence on health risks of cellular telephones, LANCET, 356(9244), 2000, pp. 1837-1840
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
LANCET
ISSN journal
01406736 → ACNP
Volume
356
Issue
9244
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1837 - 1840
Database
ISI
SICI code
0140-6736(20001125)356:9244<1837:EEOHRO>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
It Is too soon for a verdict on the health risks from cellular telephones, especially in view of changing technology. From the Interphone project and some other large studies in progress, beater information may emerge. Based on the epidemiological evidence available now, the main public-health conce rn is clearly motor vehicle collisions, a behavioural effect rather than an effect of radiofrequency exposure as such. Neither the several studies of occupational exposure to radiofrequencies nor the few of cellular telephone users offer any clear evidence of an association with brain tumours or oth er malignancies. Even If the studies In progress were to find large relativ e effects for brain cancer, the absolute increase in risk would probably be much smaller than the risk stemming from motor vehicle collisions. Cellula r telephones affect the quality of our lives in myriad ways, for good and i ll; the health risk is just one part of a picture that is slowly coming int o focus.