See Press Release from IARC Below

Today, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified RF from cell phones as a ‘Possible Human Carcinogen’ (Class 2B). This is a big step forward in recognizing the serious risks to human health posed by cell phones. However, some scientists say the IARC classification, which only references risk for glioma, is still not strong enough, and that RF should have been classified as a ‘Probable Human Carcinogen’ (Class 2A) based the existing science.

See Definition of the World Health Organization’s Class 2 Cancer Risk (PDF)

Nonetheless, the IARC opinion is a breath of fresh air to many, and restores some integrity to a badly tarnished IARC. Just over a week ago, a lead expert on the RF decision-making committee, Anders Albom of the Karolinska Institute, was found to have concealed a professional association with a consulting firm advising the telecommunications industry. Dr. Albom, who has long taken the stand that there are no risks from cell phones, was ousted. (Read story here)

Simultaneously, scientists from around the world led by the International EMF Alliance (www.iemfa.org) sent letters protesting the biases and conflicts of interest on the IARC RF decision-making committee, complaining also that no decision should be made final until the remaining 50% of Interphone study data is made public. (Read story here)  Christopher Wild, Director of IARC, then delivered a call to the remaining IARC decision-makers, 31 scientists from 14 countries, to consider seriously the human health impacts for society of their decision.

The IARC classification of cell phones as a ‘possible human carcinogen’ will now travel throughout the world, influencing governments far and wide, for the 1^st time providing an official scientific basis on which governments, schools and parents can legitimately call for precautionary behavior regarding these radiation-emitting devices. It is important to realize, however, there is no mandatory protection being called for, and though the statement expressed concern about the widespread RF exposure and long-term exposures to young adults and children, there was no specific call for protection of children.

IARC Director Chris Wild said, “Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings 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. “

Today’s IARC decision reconfirms the need for governments to institute biologically based exposure guidelines that take into consideration known biological effects occurring from all kinds of EMFs at non-heating levels of exposure, which industry has long sought to deny, despite decades of evidence.

Now is a good time to review the video from Feb 2011 of The Karolinska Institute’s Olle Johansson, PhD, “Global Governments Adopt New Exposure Guidelines for Electromagnetic Radiation—Pointing to Biological Hazards and Risks to the Genetic Code from Unchecked Proliferation of Wireless Technologies”. Clear recommendations have been made by international scientists as to what levels EMF exposures need to be lowered to in order to protect the public’s health.

Joel Moskowitz, PhD of University of California, Berkeley, Director  Center for Family and Community Health, School of Public Health says, “The US government now has a scientific basis to issue precautionary health warnings, revise existing cell phone regulations and fund research on radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation.  A $1 per year fee on each cell phone would generate $300 million annually for research and education.”

Please also sign the EMF Petition to Congress

The IARC report on carcinogenicity of RF will be online in a few days and in the July issue of The Lancet Oncology.

Lyon, France, May 31, 2011 — The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer1, associated with wireless phone use.

Background

Over the last few years, there has been mounting concern about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by wireless communication devices. The number of mobile phone subscriptions is estimated at 5 billion globally.

From May 24–31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. These assessments will be published as Volume 102 of the IARC Monographs, which will be the fifth volume in this series to focus on physical agents, after Volume 55 (Solar Radiation), Volume 75 and Volume 78 on ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma-rays, neutrons, radio-nuclides), and Volume 80 on non-ionizing radiation (extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields).

The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed the possibility that these exposures might induce long-term health effects, in particular an increased risk for cancer. This has relevance for public health, particularly for users of mobile phones, as the number of users is large and growing, particularly among young adults and children.

The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed and evaluated the available literature on the following exposure categories involving radiofrequency electromagnetic fields:

occupational exposures to radar and to microwaves; environmental exposures associated with transmission of signals for radio, television and wireless telecommunication; and personal exposures associated with the use of wireless telephones.

International experts shared the complex task of tackling the exposure data, the studies of cancer in humans, the studies of cancer in experimental animals, and the mechanistic and other relevant data.

1,237,913 new cases of brain cancers (all types combined) occurred around the world in 2008 (gliomas represent 2/3 of these). Source: Globocan 2008

Results

The evidence was reviewed critically, and overall evaluated as being limited2 among users of wireless telephones for glioma and acoustic neuroma, and inadequate3 to draw conclusions for other types of cancers. The evidence from the occupational and environmental exposures mentioned above was similarly judged inadequate. The Working Group did not quantitate the risk; however, one study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004), showed a 40% increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users (reported average: 30 minutes per day over a 10-year period).

Conclusions

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 articles4 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 1 issue, and in a few days online.

2 ‘Limited evidence of carcinogenicity’: A positive association has been observed between exposure to the agent and cancer for which a causal interpretation is considered by the Working Group to be credible, but chance, bias or confounding could not be ruled out with reasonable confidence.

3 ‘Inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity’: The available studies are of insufficient quality, consistency or statistical power to permit a conclusion regarding the presence or absence of a causal association between exposure and cancer, or no data on cancer in humans are available.

4 a. ‘Acoustic neuroma risk in relation to mobile telephone use: results of the INTERPHONE international case-control study’ (the Interphone Study Group, in Cancer Epidemiology, in press) b. ‘Estimation of RF energy absorbed in the brain from mobile phones in the Interphone study’ (Cardis et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine, in press)

c. ‘Risk of brain tumours in relation to estimated RF dose from mobile phones – results from five Interphone countries’ (Cardis et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine, in press)

IARC, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon CEDEX 08, France – Tel: +33 (0)4 72 73 84 85 – Fax: +33 (0)4 72 73 85 75 © IARC 2011 – All Rights Reserved.

d. ‘Location of Gliomas in Relation to Mobile Telephone Use: A Case-Case and Case-Specular Analysis‘ (American Journal of Epidemiology, May 24, 2011. [Epub ahead of print].

For more information, please contact Dr Kurt Straif, IARC Monographs Section, at +33 472 738 511, or [email protected]; Dr Robert Baan, IARC Monographs Section, at +33 472 738 659, or [email protected]; or Nicolas Gaudin, IARC Communications Group, at [email protected] (+33 472 738 478) Link to the audio file posted shortly after the briefing: http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/audio/press_briefings/

About IARC

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization. Its mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control. The Agency is involved in both epidemiological and laboratory research and disseminates scientific information through publications, meetings, courses, and fellowships.

If you wish your name to be removed from our press release e-mailing list, please write to [email protected].

Nicolas Gaudin, Ph.D. Head, IARC Communications International Agency for Research on Cancer World Health Organization 150, cours Albert-Thomas 69008 Lyon France

Email [email protected] http://www.iarc.fr/

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