More Updates on Cell Phone Usage and and Brain Tumors

The current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, February 23, 2011), details a never before studied aspect of cell phone-brain interaction. In an article entitled, "Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism," the authors report that cell phone usage alters brain glucose metabolism.

The study was conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Forty seven healthy volunteers participated. Each person had a PET scan before and then after a 50 minute recorded conversation (with the sound muted so that auditory activation was not imaged by the PET scan). The authors found that brain regions nearest the cell phone antenna displayed significantly higher glucose metabolism after the 50 minute phone call.

The authors concluded that the finding is of unknown clinical significance.

The second update comes from the journal, Bioelectromagnetics (January 28, 2011). This study, entitled, "Time Trends (1998-2007)in Brain Cancer Incidence Rates in Relation to Mobile Phone Use in England," reviewed age group specific national cancer incidence rates in the United Kingdom. The authors found no statistically significant change in the incidence of brain cancer among men and women.

The authors conclude that despite a dramatic increase in cell phone usage between the years 1998 and 2007, there has been no particular change in the incidence of brain cancer in the United Kingdom. The authors do not recommend any intervention to limit cell phone usage at this time.

Until there is definitive data regarding the relationship between cell phone use and brain tumor formation, it is prudent to limit cell phone usage particularly among children with developing brains.

We will continue to post new information on this blog as it becomes available.