ID Number		289
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		INTERPHONE - German National site 900, 1800 MHz (NMT, GSM, W-CDMA) mobile phone use and correlation with brain, acoustic nerve, parotid gland tumors
Details		Cases (aged 30-59) of glioma (n = 366), meningioma (n = 381), and acoustic neuroma (n = 97) from the greater Bielefeld-Heidelberg area (Mainz and Mannheim) involving 3 study centers. Cases obtained between 2000 - 2003 were analyzed for correlations with mobile phone use. Exposure assessment was performed using computer assisted personal interviews. The authors report no overall risk for glioma (OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.74 - 1.29) or meningioma (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.62 -1.13). An increase was reported with glioma for mobile phone use > 10 yrs (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 0.94 - 5.11), but it was not statistically significant. There was no association with laterality for glioma either. There was also no statistically significant increase for meningioma. The initial paper did not include data on acoustic neuroma. The authors conclude that no overall risk of glioma or meningioma was associated with mobile phone use, although long-term use needs to be studied more closely. A 3 year extension of the work is ongoing to analyze cases aged 60-69 for inclusion in the initial study data. In addition, exposure from cordless phones and bases stations will also be included. A follow-on study looked at glioma and menningioma cases (n = 747) and exposure to DECT cordless phone RF emissions. OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.29-2.33 for glioma and OR = 0.83 95% CI 0.29-2.36) for menningioma. The authors suggest that, even though the study was limited by a small number of exposed subjects, it indicates that residental low-level exposure to cordless phones does not pose a health risk. In a subsequent study, the authors report no correlation with acoustic neuroma (OR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.51-1.61) but did report a correlation with persistent noise (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.15-4.66) and hay fever (OR = 2.20; 95% CI 1.09-4.45). The authors had previously (1990) published a study on Occupational risk factors for brain tumors,and in addition to smoking did identify electrical occupations for women (RR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.4 - 20.1 but not for men. Overall study findings: OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.74-1.29 - glioma, OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.62-1.13 - meningioma, OR = 2.20; 95% CI 0.94-5.11 - 10+ yr glioma, OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.35-3.37 - 10+ yr meningioma, OR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.29 -2.33 - glioma (by subscriber list), OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.29-2.36 - meningioma (by subscriber list), OR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.38-1.19 - acoustic neuroma, no ipsilateral association. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Schlehofer et al. 2007 (IEEE #6722): The only known risk factor for sporadic acoustic neuroma is high-dose ionising radiation. Environmental exposures, such as radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and noise are under discussion, as well as an association with allergic diseases. We performed a population-based case-control study in Germany investigating these risk factors in 97 cases with acoustic neuroma, aged 30 to 69 years, and in 194 matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in multiple logistic regression models. Increased risks were found for exposure to persistent noise (OR=2.31; 95% CI 1.15-4.66), and for hay fever (OR=2.20; 95% CI 1.09-4.45), but not for ionising radiation (OR=0.91; 95 % CI 0.51-1.61) or regular mobile phone use (OR=0.67; 95% CI 0.38-1.19). The study confirms results of recently published studies, although the pathogenetic mechanisms are still unknown.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Mainz, Germany - joachim@cancer.dk
Funding Agency		EU, BfS, Germany, INTERPHONE (IARC) coordinated studies, MMF, GSM Association, DMF, Germany
Country		GERMANY
References		Schlehofer, B et al. Eur J Cancer, (2007) 43:1741-1747 Schuz, J et al. Radiation Research, (2006) 166:116-119 Schuz, J et al. Am J Epidemiol, (2006) 163:512-520 Schlehofer, B et al. Cancer Causes Control, (1990) 1:209-215 Schlehofer, B et al. Eur J Cancer., (2007) 43:1741-1747 Blettner, M et al. European journal of cancer., (2007) 43:1990-1998
Comments		Increased trend in glioma for > 10 yr exposure group - The UK / Swedish / Denmark grouped Interphone data had a statistically significant increase in acoustic neuroma in the > 10 yr exposure group.