Auckland University. New-Zealand: The risk of brain tumours has not changed significantly with
increased mobile phone use, according to new research from the
University of Auckland.
In a paper just published in the Australia and New Zealand Journal of
Public Health, on the trends in primary brain cancer incidence in New
Zealand between 1995 and 2010, research led by cancer epidemiologist,
Professor Mark Elwood, showed no general increase in brain tumours.
Professor Elwood says there have been concerns about whether the use
of mobile phones could lead to an increase in the frequency of brain
tumours.
“Several major international studies have suggested either no risk or
a slightly increased risk in high users, while some others have
suggested substantial risks,” he says.
His team examined the frequency (yearly incidence) of brain cancers,
both in total and in those sub-types highlighted in some other studies,
in New Zealand from 1995 to 2010, using data from the New Zealand
national cancer registry.
“There has been no general increase,” says Professor Elwood. “In
fact, for the wide age range 10 to 69 years, there has been a decrease
of about one percent per year.”
“This adds to the evidence against there being a substantial
increased risk in mobile phone users. This is consistent with most, but
not all, similar studies done in other countries,” he says.
Professor Elwood says these studies together suggest that previous
reports of large increases in risk in mobile phone users are likely to
be incorrect.
“But a study of this type cannot exclude a small risk, or one limited
to a certain subtype of cancers, or a risk only arising after more than
about 15 years of phone use,” he says.
“We have no explanation for the decrease in brain cancers in New
Zealand,” says Professor Elwood. “In people aged over 70 years, there
was an increase in some types of brain cancer. This has been seen in
other countries and is likely to relate to improved diagnosis.”
The research team included research student, Stella Kim, research
fellow Sally Ioannides and Professor Elwood who is a professor in the
cancer epidemiology section of the Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics at the School of Population Health, University of
Auckland.
For media enquiries email s.phillips@auckland.ac.nz