July 24, 2008

experts comment on advice given by Ronald Herberman on mobile phone use and cancer risk

Dr Herberman, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, advised employees that they should limit their use of mobile phones because of the potential link to some types of cancer.

Prof Alan Preece, Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics at the University of Bristol, said:

“The evidence for harmful effects is still confused and inconclusive and certainly there detailed studies still going on which may take some time to be concluded. The problem is that cancer causing effects found in one study seem to be cancelled out by other negative studies – for example Hardell who found possible associations with acoustic neuromas, in his 2004 study said there was NO link with salivary gland tumours, which contradicts the current scare – and his were long term studies of heavy phone users.

“Whilst I would agree that precaution for children is an excellent idea as was urged by Sir William Stewart, it is only very long term heavy use that would seem to be sensible to avoid until there there is positive evidence of harm. In any case modern phones cause far less exposure than their counterparts 10 or 20 years ago, and hands free devices effectively solve the problem by removing heavy exposure to the head. In addition, as the frequencies go up with 2G, 3G and 4G systems the effective absorption in critical tissues goes down.”

Prof Will Stewart FREng, Chair of the Communications Sector Panel at the University of Southampton, said:

“One cannot refute the ‘early findings from unpublished data’ since we have not seen them – but there is enough published data, including the MTHR review referred to, to make the advice sound alarmist! Has he also advised staff to keep children (and themselves!) out of the sun and away from any smokers? These are well-established risks that are probably much more serious than the mobile phone. And the use in ’emergencies’ could be very significant and save many lives.

“Of course UK kids tend to text – keeping the phone away from the head anyway – perhaps he should advise US parents to encourage this?

“I would be intrigued to see this early research. Journalists should question whether the work has been done but not yet peer-reviewed and published, or whether it has actually yet to be completed.”