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
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.
