Comments on FDA’s interpretation problem
Comments from Magda Havas on FDA finding the Hardell et al studies “hard to interpret”(Message #431) :
Don,
I don’t understand what is so difficult to interpret.
Hardell and colleagues had two mobile phone studies published this year. One dealt with benign tumours and the other with malignant tumours as follows:
Hardell et al. 2006a. Pooled analysis of two case-control studies on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk of BENIGN tumours diagnosed during the 1997-2003. Intern. J. Oncology 28:509-519.
Hardell et al. 2006b. Pooled analysis of two case-control studies on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk of MALINANT tumours diagnosed during the 1997-2003. Int. Arch Occup. Environ. Health.
Hardell et al. reported that for benign tumours the risk is greatest for acoustic neuromas (rather than meningiomas) and the odds ratio (OR) is 2.9 for analogue phones, 1.5 for digital cell phones and 1.5 for cordless phones (all statistically significant) and that’s based on a case population of 1254 and a control population of 2162 (3416 participants). The greatest risk was for anlaogue phones used for more than 15 years (OR 3.8).
For malignant tumors they had a case/control population of 905/2162 people. With more than 2000 hours use the OR was 5.9, 3.7 and 2.3 for analog, digital and cordless phones respectively. For high grade astrocytomas after 10 years of phone use the ORs were 2.7, 3.8 and 2.2 for analog, digital and cordless.
These risks are considerable and are not difficult to interpret. When you put these results into context with the Lai studies on DNA breaks and the studies showing an increase in the permeability of the blood brain barrier they provide pieces of the puzzle and the picture that is emerging is not pretty. Combine this with a growing number of people complaining about headaches, numbness, difficulty concentrating when they use mobile phones and we are headed for a crisis because the number of cell phone users is growing exponentially and many of them are young people.
No one wants cell phones to contribute to brain tumors, not the providers and certainly not the users BUT, this is what the studies are suggesting i.e. mobile phone use is associated with an increased risk of both malignant and benign brain tumors. The sooner the FDA, Health Canada, WHO and other bodies recognize this and begin to request lower emissions the greater the benefit not only to mobile phone users but to those exposed to second-hand radiation from phones and antennas.
-magda
Leave a reply →