ID Number		816
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		INTERPHONE - Finnish National site 900, 1800 MHz (NMT, GSM, W-CDMA) mobile phone use and correlation with brain, acoustic nerve, parotid gland tumors
Details		Human subjects with brain (n=398) and salivary gland (n=34) tumors in Finland through 1996 were analyzed for mobile phone exposure. Exposure assessment (limited to time on phone and 450 & 900 MHz (NMT) and/or 900 & 1800 MHz (GSM) technology) was validated in some users with billing records from cellular carrier companies. Adjustments for residence, socioeconomic status, and occupation were considered. A short duration of phone use (usually 1 yr or less) and a low percentage of tumor patients that had a significant history of cell phone use (13% for brain tumor patients, 12% for salivary gland patients, and 11% for controls, and an average use of 2-3 years for NMT and less than 1 year for GSM), made statistically reliable data difficult to obtain. When all participants were analyzed, no association was reported for total brain tumors (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9 - 1.8), salivary gland tumors (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.4 - 4.7), meningiomas (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.5 - 2.4), or histological brain tumor types other than glioma (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.4 - 2.0). A slight positive statistical association was reported for gliomas (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 - 2.4), and especially for glioma with analog use (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 - 2.4) with a weak increasing trend with duration of subscription. No association was reported for glioma and GSM digital mobile phone use (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.5 - 2.0). No association with tumor laterality was found. The authors conclude larger studies with longer follow-up times are necessary. A larger group from Finland is currently being analyzed for correlations with mobile phone use as part of the INTERPHONE study. In a study reported by Hartikka, Auvinen et al (2009), glioma patients from the Finnish arm of the Interphone study where precise tumor location could be obtained from MRI images (n = 99), the authors compared this with mobile phone position (assuming a nominal phone position and maximum exposure over the area of the internal antenna). From questionnaire responses, the authors estimated lifetime exposure up to 12 months prior to diagnosis and reported the following: OR = 2.58 (95% CI = 0.65-10.26) for regular users (>1 per week for > 6 months), OR = 2.52 (95% CI = 0.45-13.4) for > 540 hr cumulative use, OR = 3.36 (95% CI = 0.84-13.42) for any use (vs never used), OR = 1.34 (95% CI = 0.29-6.20) for regular ipsilateral use, OR = 4.93 (95% CI = 1.13-21.5) for regular contralateral use, OR = 1.96 (95% CI = 0.38-10.2) for > 5 yrs of use, and OR = 3.39 (95% CI = 0.83-13.76) for 1-5 yrs use. Overall study findings: OR = 0.78; 95% CI 0.7-0.9  glioma, OR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.01-1.92 - 10+ yr glioma, no ipsilateral association, insufficient 10+ yr users for evaluation. A separate meta-analysis based upon 2870 brain tumor cases (collected from 12 different studies) did not reveal any overall elevated risk associated with mobile phone use for a period of at least 5 years.
Findings		Effects (replication needed)
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		STUK: Radiation Nuclear Safety Authority, Finland
Funding Agency		EU, Nat'l Res Prog, Finland, INTERPHONE (IARC) coordinated studies, MMF, GSM Association, TEKES
Country		FINLAND
References		Hartikka, H et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2009) 30:176-182 Lahkola, A et al. Scand J Work Environ Health, (2006) 32:171-177 Auvinen, A et al. Epidemiology, (2002) 13:356-359
Comments		Although a weak association was observed for glioma and cell phone use (especially with analogue), the authors caution, "Before 1996 there were more corporate than private subscriptions in Finland, and therefore more than half of all cellular phone users could have been classified as non-users in this study. This sort of exposure misclassification would tend to weaken any effect observed. In addition, no laterality effect was observed, in contrast to Hardell et al. In addition, of the glioma patients with mobile phone history, only 4 used phones < 1 yr, 11 used 1-2 yrs, and 11 used > 2 yrs - no information given on the amount of use per day or per week, or total cummulative hrs in any time period. In contrast to the study by Hardell, malignant tumors (gliomas) WERE associated with NMT use - and NOT other tumor types (like acoustic neuromas). For the INTEPHONE studies, UICC acts as a firewall for funding by MMF and GSMA - see http://www.iarc.fr/pageroot/UNITS/RCA4.html for details). The meta-analysis included data from Hardell 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006; Muscat 2000, 2002; Inskip 2001; Johansen 2001; Auvinen 2002; Lonn 2005; Christensen 2005; Shoemaker 2005.