ID Number		2331
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		Epidemiological studies of RF exposure from base stations and mobile phones on incidence of childhood neoplasms and other health symptoms.
Details		AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Li et al. 2012 (IEEE #5368): This population-based casecontrol study in Taiwan considered incident cases aged 15 years or less and admitted in 2003 to 2007 for all neoplasm (ICD-9-CM: 140239) (n=2606), including 939 leukemia and 394 brain neoplasm cases. Controls were randomly selected, with a case/control ratio of 1:30 and matched on year of birth, from all non-neoplasm children insured in the same year when the index case was admitted. Annual summarized power (ASP, watt-year) was calculated for each of the 71,185 mobile phone base stations (MPBS) in service between 1998 and 2007. Then, the annual power density (APD, watt-year/km2) of each township (n=367) was computed as a ratio of the total ASP of all MPBS in a township to the area of that particular township. Exposure of each study subject to radio frequency (RF) was indicated by the averaged APD within 5 years prior to the neoplasm diagnosis (cases) or July 1st of the year when the index case was admitted (controls) in the township where the subject lived. Unconditional logistic regression model with generalized estimation equation was employed to calculate the covariate-adjusted odds ratio [AOR] of childhood neoplasm in relation to RF exposure. A higher than median averaged APD (approximately 168 WYs/km2) was significantly associated with an increased AOR for all neoplasms (1.13; 1.01 to 1.28), but not for leukemia (1.23; 0.99 to 1.52) or brain neoplasm (1.14, 0.83 to 1.55). This study noted a significantly increased risk of all neoplasms in children with higher-than-median RF exposure to MPBS. The slightly elevated risk was seen for leukemia and brain neoplasm, but was not statistically significant. These results may occur due to several methodological limitations. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Chiu et al. 2015 (IEEE #6138): Background/purpose: To investigate the mobile phone (MP) use for talking in relation to health symptoms among 2042 children aged 11e15 years in Taiwan. Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional study, using the computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) technique, was conducted in 2009 to collect information on childrens utilization of MPs and the perceived health symptoms reported by their parents. Results: The overall prevalence of MP use in the past month was estimated at 63.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) Z 61.1e65.3%]. MP use was associated with a significantly increased adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for headaches and migraine (1.42, 95% CI Z 1.12e1.81) and skin itches (1.84, 95% CI Z 1.47e2.29). Children who regularly used MPs were also considered to have a health status worse than it was 1 year ago (b Z 0.27, 95% CI Z 0.17e0.37). Conclusion: Although the cross-sectional design precludes the causal inference for the observed association, our study tended to suggest a need for more cautious use of MPs in children, because children are expected to experience a longer lifetime exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from MPs.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		National Cheng Kung U, Tainan, Taiwan
Funding Agency		Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion
Country		TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA
References		Li, CY et al. Science of the Total Environment., (2012) 435-436:472-478 Chiu, CT et al. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association., (2015) 114:598-604
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