WHO Monograph on Cancer Risk from Mobile Phone Use Released

BERKELEY, Calif. - April 19, 2013 - PRLog -- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) published its long-awaited monograph on the cancer risk to humans from exposure to cell phone radiation and other radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. The primary focus of the review is on the microwave radiation emitted by cell phones.

According to the monograph, “Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” (p. 421) Children are particularly vulnerable to this carcinogenic effect as “the average exposure from use of the same mobile phone is higher by a factor of 2 in a child’s brain and higher by a factor of 10 in the bone marrow of the skull.” Also, the child’s brain is developing at a greater rate than the adult brain.

The human research reviewed by IARC examined people who used legally-acquired cell phones that passed regulatory standards. They were exposed to nonthermal doses of microwave radiation from their cell phones. Yet IARC concluded there is evidence, though somewhat limited still, that these exposures caused increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma. Thus, it is time for all nations to review their cell phone regulatory standards and testing procedures in order to protect their citizens from preventable risks. Also, it is critical that governments provide ample warnings to cell phone users how to use their phones safely.

This 471 page report is based on the consensus of a Working Group of 31 international experts who met in Lyon, France in May, 2011. Although a few studies published since this meeting were included in this monograph, other recent studies that further support the evidence for increased cancer risk due to exposure to cell phone radiation were not reviewed.

The monograph only examines research on cancer risk. Other research has found that cell phone radiation has additional harmful effects on humans, especially on sperm and the fetus.

To see what I consider the most important quotes from the monograph, go to my Electromagnetic Radiation Safety web site: http://saferemr.com. A link to the full monograph is available there.

Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.
School of Public Health
University of California