Cancer and Cellphones

Dr Jonathan Samet (University of Southern California,

USA), overall Chairman of the Working Group, indicated that

"the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to

support a conclusion and the 2B classification.

The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and

therefore we need to keep a close watch

for a link between cell phones and cancer

risk."

"Given the potential consequences

for public health

of this classification and findings,"

said

IARC Director Christopher Wild,

"it is important that additional research

be conducted into

the long term, heavy

use of mobile phones.

Pending the availability

of such information, it is

important to

take pragmatic measures

to reduce exposure such as hands free devices

or texting.

"The Working Group considered hundreds

of scientific articles; the complete list

will be published in the Monograph.

It is noteworthy to mention that several recent in press scientific articles resulting from the Interphone

study were made available to the working group shortly

before it was due to convene,

reflecting their acceptance for publication at

that time, and were included in the evaluation.

A concise report summarizing the main conclusions of

the IARC Working Group and the evaluations

of the carcinogenic hazard

from radiofrequency, electromagnetic fields (including the use

of mobile telephones)

will be published in

The Lancet Oncology

in its July Publication.