Cancer and mobiles: a specialist team warns
By admin at 26 July, 2008, 3:01 pm
The head of the research institute against cancer at the University of Pittsburgh recommends that its 3,000 employees to limit their use of mobile phones.
The emission of electromagnetic waves, or radio frequency, cell phones, they represent a health hazard? Without definitive proof in the long term, and pending the results of the large Interphone study to be published this year, the debate rages.
WHO and Ministry of Health advocate a neutral attitude, (see our dossier) in the absence of significant elements, while recommending use “reasonable” and caution against use by children and adolescents, whose organization is more sensitive.
A call for caution launched by a score of scientists has revived the debate but especially recalled how difficult it is to share things between legitimate concern and catastrophism announced. For Dr. Ronald Herberman, head of the research institute against cancer at the University of Pittsburgh, there is sufficient evidence to charge against the motives to justify the restriction of the use.
Scientists out of their reserve
He passed the 3,000 employees of the institute a memo in which he speaks clearly an increased risk of developing cancer in the event of prolonged use of mobile phones, thus taking against the foot of consensus neutrality. The document was sent to a score of french scientists, American and Canadian and based on new data not yet published from several research projects underway.
According to The Guardian, it could include preliminary data from the Interphone study. Dr. Heberman therefore proposes a ten-point program aimed at reducing the risks of using mobile phones, according to a type approach precautionary principle.
Once again, these instructions are not different from the reasonable use advocated by authorities and taken by the call of 20 scientists in France: limit the duration of call, preferably using a hands-free kit, and so on. Nothing new then, if not taking a position on the part of a scientific personality.
The question of the reality of the threat, namely the increased risk of developing cancer during the prolonged use of a mobile telephone, remains full. Hopefully, the Interphone study will tip the balance one way or another, otherwise the debate is likely to take much longer. It should be noted that research projects focusing on health and mobile field were selected for funding by the Foundation Health and Radio frequencies.
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