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1 1 de 11 18/05/ :42 Welcome to TimesPeople Get Started TimesPeople recommended: A New Clue to Explain Existence Recommend 1:58 PM Try Times Reader 2.0 Log In Register Now Home Page Today's Paper Video Most Popular Times Topics Search All NYTimes.com Tuesday, May 18, 2010 World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos Research Fitness & Nutrition Money & Policy Views Health Guide Advertise on NYTimes.com

2 2 de 11 18/05/ :42 May 18, 2010, 7:03 am By TARA PARKER-POPE (Peter DaSilva for The New York Times) A long-awaited study of cellphone use and brain health has finally been released, but the data are raising more questions than answers. The report is called Interphone, a 13-country study that amounts to the largest and longest study of whether extensive cellphone use increases risk for brain tumors. The study results, published in The International Journal of Epidemiology, were delayed by four years, reportedly after researchers disagreed over how to present the results. The final paper states that overall there is no link between cellphone use and brain tumors. However, the investigators report that study participants with the highest level of cellphone use had a 40 percent higher risk for a type of brain tumor called a glioma. However, that risk is discounted because of potential biases and errors that prevent a causal interpretation, the investigators wrote. In a press release accompanying the study, Christopher P. Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: An increased risk of brain cancer is not established from the data from Interphone. However, observations at the highest level of cumulative call time and the changing patterns of mobile phone use since the period studied by Interphone, particularly in young people, mean that further investigation of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk is merited. To study the relationship between cellphones and brain tumors, the Interphone researchers gathered data on 2,708 cases of glioma and 2,409 of meningioma, another type of brain tumor, and matched them against about 5,600 controls. They tracked the cellphone habits and health of all the people in the study in an effort to ascertain whether cellphone use was associated with a higher risk for brain tumors. The $25 million study, which began in 2000, was funded primarily by the European Commission and the cellphone industry. Although earlier studies have found no link between cellphones and brain tumors, that research has been criticized for being too short in duration to detect any trends. The brain tumor-cellphone link has been dismissed by a number of health groups, including the U.S Food and Drug Administration and the American Cancer Society. Cellphones emit non-ionizing radiation, waves of energy that are too weak to break chemical bonds or to set off the DNA damage known to cause cancer. There is no known biological mechanism to explain how non-ionizing radiation might lead to cancer. But researchers who have raised concerns have focused on the heat generated by cellphones and the fact that the

3 3 de 11 18/05/ :42 radio frequencies are absorbed mostly by the head and neck. In observational studies that suggest a risk, the tumors tend to occur on the same side of the head where the patient typically holds the phone. So what does the Interphone data add to the debate? Louis Slesin, the editor of Microwave News, has been following the research on cellphones and cancer for years and notes that despite the downplaying of the results, at the very least, the risks are greater than many believed only a few years ago. He writes: In a series of interviews, a number of the members of the Interphone project told Microwave News that they now see the risk among long-term users as being larger than when the study began. Some think the risk warrants serious attention. To me, there s certainly smoke there, said Elisabeth Cardis, who leads the Interphone project. Overall, my opinion is that the results show a real effect. Dr. Cardis is with the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona. She moved there two years ago after working on Interphone at IARC for close to a decade. There is evidence that there may be a risk; Interphone has made that a little stronger, said Bruce Armstrong of the University of Sydney, another member of Interphone. It shows some indication of an increased risk of gliomas, but I cannot say this with certainty. (A glioma is a type of brain tumor.) Siegal Sadetzki, the Israeli member of Interphone, goes further. She pointed out that while the risks are inconclusive, a number of the results show some consistency. These include increased risks among the heaviest users, the fact that the risks were highest on the side of the head the phone was usually used and that the tumors were in the temporal lobe of the brain, which is closest to the ear. Sadetzki is with the Gertner Institute outside Tel Aviv. The data are not strong enough for a causal interpretation, but they are sufficient to support precautionary policies, she said. Mobile phone trade groups were quick to promote the study s overall findings. Interphone finds no increased risk of brain cancer from mobiles, reported the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association. To learn more, read the full, detailed analysis from Microwave News. And for more information about research on cellphones and cancer, read my Well column on the topic, Experts Revive Debate Over Cellphones and Cancer. And to see how various news organizations and trade groups have reported on the story, go to the Microwave News Interphone Resources page. This Print Share Twitter Sign in to Recommend Healthy Consumer, cell phones, cellphones Related Posts From Well A Game to Measure Multitasking Skill

4 4 de 11 18/05/ :42 When Dad Banned Text Messaging Will Drivers Ever Give Up Cellphones? Prominent Cancer Doctor Warns About Cellphones How Much Radiation Does Your Phone Emit? Previous post Time to Review Workplace Reviews? Add your comments... Your Name Your Required Required, will not be published Your Comment Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ. Ads by Google what's this? Unlocked China Cell Phone Factory Direct China Cell Phone Comparison Shopping. Paypal, Order Search This Blog May 18 Previous post Time to Review Workplace Reviews? Recent Posts Questions About Cellphones and Brain Tumors A long-awaited study of cell phone use and brain health has finally been released, but the data are raising more questions than answers. May 17 (42) Time to Review Workplace Reviews?

5 5 de 11 18/05/ :42 With worker satisfaction at what appears to be an all-time low, the focus is on the causes of unhappiness at work. May 17 (9) Words of Comfort After a Loss In today's Personal Health column, Jane Brody writes about the power of condolences after the outpouring of support she received following the death of her husband. May 17 (8) Caffeine on the Night Shift How much do night workers depend on caffeine? In today's Really? column, Anahad O'Connor explores the role of caffeine in helping night shift workers stay alert. May 14 (24) When Salad Meets Sandwich Recipes for Health columnist Martha Rose Shulman offers five salad-inspired sandwiches ideal for trips or picnics. Advertise on NYTimes.com Comments of the Moment Of course they're not normal; they're cats! Sharon Is Your Cat Normal? My cat likes to type at my computer keyboard. He typed this today: ';lokijyhtjgf":.;lkjiuhygtfr Malt Yurt Is Your Cat Normal? Our cat also prefers toilet waters to all others, and in fact taught herself to flush. The first time she did this in the middle of the night, we thought we had a (really dumb) burglar. Terry Is Your Cat Normal?

6 6 de 11 18/05/ :42 Is there anything worse than cat people? Seriously. Creegah Is Your Cat Normal? Health Care Conversations Share your thoughts about the health care debate. Join the discussion. The Public Option A Single-Payer System Illegal Immigrants Patient Voices The Voices of Migraine Six men and women discuss living with migraines. The Voices of Rheumatoid Arthritis Coping With and Without Insurance The Voices of A.L.S. The Voices of O.C.D. Confronting Cancer Dana Jennings Dana Jennings blogs life after prostate cancer. A Dog, a Buzz Cut and Other Cancer Stories At Home in Solitude as a Spirit Recovers A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Cancer Clinic Eat Well Popcorn's Dark Secret

7 7 de 11 18/05/ :42 Movie-theater popcorn has an alarming amount of fat, salt and calories in even the smallest sizes. A Makeover for Food Labels Popcorn s Dark Secret Mark Bittman's Top 12 Make-Ahead Dishes Well Pets Best Walking Partners Having to walk a dog can help people be more consistent about regular exercise. The Cat Who Got Swine Flu The Value of Pet Therapy Pets Get MRSA Infections Too Special Section Decoding Your Health A special issue of Science Times looks at the explosion of information about health and medicine and offers some guidelines on how to sort it all out Special Section Small Steps: A Good Health Guide Trying to raise a healthy child can feel overwhelming, but it doesn t have to be. Special Section

8 8 de 11 18/05/ :42 A Guided Tour of Your Body Changes in our health are inevitable as we get older. What do we need to know about staying well as we age? Health Quiz Go to Special Section About Well Healthy living doesn t happen at the doctor s office. The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day. It s about the choices we make when we buy groceries, drive our cars and hang out with our kids. Join columnist Tara Parker-Pope as she sifts through medical research and expert opinions for practical advice to help readers take control of their health and live well every day. Archive Select Month Tag List MARATHON 103 CHEN 54 KIDS 53 JENNINGS 51 DOCTORS 51 EXERCISE 50 CANCER 46 NUTRITION 45 RECIPES 38 PATIENT MONEY 37 WEIGHT 37 TEENS 36 PAULINE CHEN 36 BREAST CANCER 36 PHYS ED 34 PATIENT VOICES 33 PROSTATE CANCER 31 PREGNANCY 30 BRAIN 29 RECIPES FOR HEALTH 27 SLEEP 26 AGING 26 HOLIDAY FOOD 25 THERESA BROWN 25 DANA JENNINGS 24 WOMEN 24

9 9 de 11 18/05/ :42 CHILDREN 23 DOGS 23 DEPRESSION 22 FOOD 22 In Science Times When Lowering the Odds of Cancer Isn t Enough If someone invented a pill to cut a cancer risk in half, would you take it? Firm Body, No Workout Required? In Month of Giving, a Healthy Reward Food, Kin and Tension at Thanksgiving A Marathon Run in the Slow Lane All Past Columns Eating Well Recipes for Health The easiest and most pleasurable way to eat well is to cook. Recipes for Health offers recipes with an eye towards empowering you to cook healthy meals every day. Celery Quinoa Sweet Potatoes Swiss Chard Peppers See All Recipes for Health What We're Talking About Aging Well Body Work Cancer Family Matters House Calls Medicine Cabinet On Your Mind Safe Travels The Healthy Consumer The Week Weigh In Eat Well

10 10 de 11 18/05/ :42 Comprehensive reference and special reports about diseases, conditions, tests, injuries and surgeries. Alzheimer s Disease» Sleep Apnea» Prostate Cancer» Headache, Tension» Cholesterol» Back Pain» Browse All 3,000 + Topics» Weight Control» Rheumatoid Arthritis» Osteoarthritis» Diabetes, Type 2» Breast Cancer» Heart Attack» ALSO IN VIDEO» A look inside The Times's newsroom The path of the jaguar Feeds Well RSS Subscribe to Tara Parker-Pope s Reading List Ads by Google what's this? Unlocked TV mobile phone Factory TV mobile phone, 50% OFF Comparison Shopping. Paypal, Order Home World U.S. N.Y. / Region

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