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BC researchers collaborate on international Interphone study on mobile phone use and brain cancer risk

Research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, from the international Interphone Study Group, provides insight into mobile phone use and brain cancer. Senior Scientist Mary McBride of the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, led the B.C. arm of the study, which did not find an increased likelihood amongst those who have used a mobile phone for 10 years or longer. The results focus on glioma and meningioma, two serious brain tumours. 

Mary McBride says, “The results from the Interphone study, the largest study of mobile phone use related to brain cancer to date, show us that there is no increased risk for glioma and meningioma from mobile phone use. As usage has substantially increased over the years, it’s important that further studies examine high exposure groups such as long-term heavy users.”  

“B.C.’s participation in Interphone was highly valuable, adding local data to increase the comprehensiveness of this international study, which has a significant public health interest for most British Columbians who regularly use mobile phones,” says McBride. 

Twenty-one scientists from 13 countries participated in this international effort, interviewing 2708 glioma and 2409 meningioma cases (111 cases in BC) and matched control subjects to determine differences in exposures between the groups. 

Launched in 2000 and led by the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), researchers set out to determine whether radio frequency waves emitted during mobile phone use increased the risk of brain tumours. With the dramatic increase of mobile phone use in the 1980’s, the WHO sponsored study sought to address public health concerns by initiating the largest and most comprehensive case-control study on mobile phones and brain tumours.    

Radiation oncologist Dr. Roy Ma specializes in treating brain tumours at the BC Cancer Agency, Dr. Ma says,” Researching the effects of mobile phone use on brain tumours is crucial. We have to better understand how environmental factors might one day impact our health.” He adds, “It’s reassuring that we don’t see a correlation in this study, but we need more research in view of newer phone technology and the changing pattern of mobile phone use, especially in the younger generation who are frequent users.” 

Mobile phone subscribers in Canada numbered 22.8 million as of December 2009, according to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. While the prevalence of mobile phone use continues to grow, newer digital cell phone technology, which emits less Radio Frequency waves, has reduced individual exposure.

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