WHO: Excessive cellphone use may raise risk for brain cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that excessive cellphone use may increase the risk for "glioma," a malignant type of brain cancer. In a report on May 31, the WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields associated with wireless phone use as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). WHO said a study was conducted because of "mounting concern about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields." The number of cellphone users worldwide is estimated at 5 billion. According to WHO, "from May 24–31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields." The IARC, the subsidiary investigative panel of the WHO, reviewed previous studies on electromagnetic radiation's effects on humans and animals over the past decade. "Several of the epimediological studies look pretty closely at this question. It seems logical that if cellphones were to contribute to the causation of cancer, the tumor would be more likely to be on the side that people use the phone, and there's some indication that that is in fact the case," said IARC chair Jonathan Samet. "There are approaches you can take to use texting or to use hands-free systems to reduce of limit your exposure whilst we're in this period of uncertainty," said Christopher Wild, IARC director. WHO said the study limited among users of wireless telephones for glioma and acoustic neuroma, and inadequate to draw conclusions for other types of cancers. "The evidence from the occupational and environmental exposures mentioned above was similarly judged inadequate," WHO said. "The Working Group did not quantitate the risk; however, one study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004), showed a 40% increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users (reported average: 30 minutes per day over a 10‐year period," WHO added. Safety recommendations On the State of the Nation (SONA) program of Jessica Soho on GMA News TV on Wednesday, experts discussed the WHO report. "We suggest that heavy cellphone users follow the safety recommendations of the manufacturer of their mobile phones on the proper usage of their handsets. The WHO advisory also suggested the use of hands-free devices and text messaging," said Mon Isberto, spokesman of Smart Communications. Globe Telecom, on the other hand, had no comment yet, saying they are still reviewing the study. "With anything whether it's food or cellphone use...dapat in moderation lang. Hindi naman yung sasabihin nating hindi na kayo gagamit ng cellphone, bawasan lang. Maybe we should go back to using our landlines," advises Dr. Juliette Batara, a neuro oncologist at St. Luke's Medical Center. The country has only two neuro oncologists, who specialize in brain tumors. Batara explained that earlier studies compared 6,000 patients with brain tumors with 12,000 without brain tumors, and found no association. There are over 30 studies with similar findings, but the WHO revised its statement after reviewing two unpublished studies, Batara said. "It's difficult to do these studies, kasi ang mga tao iba-iba ang gamit ng cellphone. Merong matagal gumamit, merong hindi matagal gumamit," she said. "Merong 10 years nang gumagamit, merong 20 years nang gumagamit. Pag gumagawa kasi tayo ng study kailangan pantay-pantay yung mga factors na yun, kaya napaka hirap i-analyze yun," she added. She said that it is possible that the cancer risk has not been seen. "Kasi yung dating ginawang study merong risk sa upper ten percent ng users, na may increased risk for glyoma or a malignant type of brain tumor. Kasi may lumabas na maliit na ganun noon, posible na baka over twenty years, thirty years, mas makita yung risk," said Batara. "It probably does but the fact that it's taking so many years to prove it, they cannot say for sure because it is not yet proven. Sa medicine ngayon kasi kapag sinabing risk, black and white yun. That's why they're only saying possibly," she said. "I think over a long period of time, merong makikita. So it's not so scary, kasi it's not like cigarette smoking na kapag nagsigarilyo ka siguradong mas mataas yung risk mo. The fact that it's taking so long and so many patients to see this is, maliit yung risk," she added. Nine out of ten Filipinos are cellphone users, causing the Philippines to be named the "Texting Capital of the World." Based on last year's estimates from Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular, there are 86.6 million cellphone users in the country. In 2008, the SMS count was almost 250 billion. - VVP, GMA News