Mobile phone use and risk of brain neoplasms and other cancers: prospective study

Int J Epidemiol. 2013 Jun;42(3):792-802. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyt072. Epub 2013 May 8.

Abstract

Background: Results from some retrospective studies suggest a possible increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma in users of mobile phones.

Methods: The relation between mobile phone use and incidence of intracranial central nervous system (CNS) tumours and other cancers was examined in 791,710 middle-aged women in a UK prospective cohort, the Million Women Study. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Women reported mobile phone use in 1999 to 2005 and again in 2009.

Results: During 7 years' follow-up, 51,680 incident invasive cancers and 1,261 incident intracranial CNS tumours occurred. Risk among ever vs never users of mobile phones was not increased for all intracranial CNS tumours (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.90-1.14, P = 0.82), for specified CNS tumour types nor for cancer at 18 other specified sites. For long-term users compared with never users, there was no appreciable association for glioma (10+ years: RR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.55-1.10, P = 0.16) or meningioma (10+ years: RR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.66-1.84, P = 0.71). For acoustic neuroma, there was an increase in risk with long term use vs never use (10+ years: RR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.07-5.64, P = 0.03), the risk increasing with duration of use (trend among users, P = 0.03).

Conclusions: In this large prospective study, mobile phone use was not associated with increased incidence of glioma, meningioma or non-CNS cancers.

Keywords: Acoustic neuroma; cellular phone; glioma; meningioma; neoplasms; prospective studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / etiology
  • Cell Phone / statistics & numerical data*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Glioma / complications
  • Glioma / epidemiology*
  • Glioma / etiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / complications
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / epidemiology
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / etiology
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology