ID Number		970
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		850 MHz (TDMA) exposure to residents near mobile phone base stations and correlations with cancer
Details		People (n=622) living in proximity to a mobile phone cell site in Netanya, Isreal (began operation in July 1996) and attending a cancer clinic were compared with control populations registering in a neighboring clinic in Netanya as well as the entire population cancer rate in Netanya. Eight cases in the experimental area were diagnosed during the study period between July 1997-June 1998 - all different types of cancer (ovarian, breast lung, hodgkins, osteoid osteoma, and hypernephroma). The authors report a statistically significant association between residential proximity to the mobile phone base station site and cancer incidence. Start date June 1997, end date June 1999.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Tel-Aviv University, Isreal - wolf_r@netvision.net.il
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		ISRAEL
References		Wolf, R et al. Int J Cancer Prev., (2004) 1:123-128 Wolf, R et al. (seminar presentation), (2002) :- Wolf, R et al. In: Trends in Cancer Prevention (Columbus F., editor),Nova Science Publishers, New York, NY. [See Int J Cancer Prevention 1 (19 pages) 2004] , (2007) :1-8
Comments		There were only 8 cancer cancer cases included this cell tower under study. Even more concerning, these were all different kinds of cancer (ovarian, breast lung, hodgkins, Osteoid osteoma, and hypernephroma) - not even 8 cases of the same thing. The control population was not adequately matched, despite the authors claim that it somehow is. The controls are all derived from a different clinic made up of people (presumably) living in a different area and subject to multiple different confounding factors. How can the author even be sure the control population did not live near other cell sites ? THis is not mentioned. Any cell network would be presumed to have sites situated throughout all the areas under study. The study presumes a latency period of less than 2 years for all the cancers (the cell site just started operating 1 year before the study). The exposure was miniscule at the level of the homes - one would have to conclude, if the study were valid, that cancer cases would be popping up all over the place around cell sites. I would be very suspicious if many other sites within the control population or the city of Netanya did not also have power densities comparable to what was found in the cancer subject's homes. Most importantly, there is NO dosimetry, just a single "measure -?" of power density at each home. Where was this measured ? On the roof ? Did the women work or stay home all day ? Were the control site homes measured ? In addition, the ERP from cell sites can changes over time in directionality, power, and cycle of transmission, especially during low-traffic periods in the late evening and early morning hours - this was not characterized in the cancer cases. In addition to changes in ERP, the effects of terrain and the reflecting / shielding contributions of natural and man-made structures and atmospheric conditions can cause significant variations in the RF energy that reaches various points within the homes and over the entire coverage area. Such variation was not described at all.