Radiofrequency Fields ( RF )( Mobile Phones )

Evaluation of IARC( International Agency for Research on Cancer )

Dr. VijayalaxmiDepartment of Radiology

University of Texas Health Science CenterSan Antonio, Texas, USA.

vijay@uthscsa.edu

ELF RadioFrequency Fields

Power-Lines Radio TV Microwaves Infrared UV X - rays γ - rays

Frequency

Hertz

VisibleLight

Energy

eV

1 Hertz ( Hz ) = One Cycle per Second

Electromagnetic Fields

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

Cell Phones

Mobile Phone UsersCountry Mobile Phones Population % Users

World 6,800,000,000+ 7,012,000,000 97 %( Dec 2013 )

India 924,318,927 1,262,090,000[ 74 %( Nov 2014 )

China 1,227,360,000 1,349,585,838 91 %( Dec 2013 )

USA317,874,628 317,874,628

103 %( April 2014 )

International OrganizationsIEEE ( 2005 ) & ICNIRP ( 2009 )

Recommended Exposure Limits

Radiofrequency Fields ( 300 MHz - 300 GHz )

Based on the Threshold for Heating & Behavior Disruption at 4 W / kg whole body averaged Specific Absorption Rate (SAR )

General Public Occupational

0.08 W / kg( 50x safety factor )

0.4 W / kg( 10x safety factor )

2.0 W / kg / 10 gm Av. SARLocalized Tissue Exposure for brain in mobile phone users

10 W / kg averaged over 10 gm tissuefor professional two-way radio users

Public Concern ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS

Brain & Other Cancers

800 – 2000 MHz Radiofrequency Fields

Emitted from Mobile Phones

IARC

Evaluation

2011

May 2011IARC Working Group30 scientists from 14 countries

“ Evaluation of Carcinogenicity of RF ” Epidemiological Studies in Humans

Case - Control & Cohort Investigations

Long-term Bio-assays in Animals Carcinogenecity in One or More Species

Other Relevant DataGenotoxicity, Other Relevant Data, Mechanism(s), etc.

Genotoxicity2003 Heynick et al. Bioelectromagnetics

2003 Meltz Bioelectromagnetics

2004 Vijayalaxmi & Obe Radiation Research

2005 Moulder et al. Int J Radiation Biology

2005 Verschaeve Toxicol Appl Pharmacology

2007 Lai Bioinitiative Working Group

2008 Vijayalaxmi & Prihoda Radiation Research

2009 ICNIRP Review

2009 Phillips et al. Pathophysiology

2009 Ruediger Pathophysiology

2009 Verschaeve et al. Mutation Research

2010 Verschaeve et al. Mutation Research

WEAK EVIDENCE

Other Relevant DataApoptosis No Evidence

Auditory System No Evidence

Behavior Inadequate Evidence

Blood-Brain Barrier, etc. No Evidence

Cell Transformation No Evidence

Gene and Protein Expression Limited Evidence

Immune Function Inadequate Evidence

Inter- / Intra-Cellular Signals No Evidence

Neurodegenerative Diseases Inadequate Evidence

Oxidative Stress No Evidence

Reproduction, Development, Teratology No Evidence

Stress Response Limited Evidence

WEAK EVIDENCE

Mechanism(s)

Several were ProposedNO CONFIRMED EVIDENCE

Carcinogenicity in Animals( Total 47 Investigations )

# Year Author Animal RF exposure Target Organ # Year Author Animal RF exposure Target Organ

Two Year Bioassays

1 1992 Chou Rat 2450 PW Whole Body 17 1998a Imaida Rat TDMA-929 Liver Focus

2 2003 La Regina Rat CDMA-847 Whole Body 18 1998b Imaida Rat TDMA-14939 Liver Focus

3 2004 Anderson Rat Iridium-1620 Whole Body Tumor - Prone Animals4 2007 Smith Rat GSM-902 Whole Body 1 1982 Szmigielski Mouse 2450 Breast

5 2007 Tillman Mouse GSM-902 Whole Body 2 1997 Repacholi Mouse GSM-900 Hematopoietic

Initiation - Promotion Model 3 1997 Toler Mouse 435 PW Breast

1 1999 Chagnaud Rat GSM-900 Skin 4 2001 Jauchem Mouse UWB Breast

2 1999 Adey Rat NADC-836 Brain 5 2002 Utteridge Mouse GSM-898 Hematopoietic

3 2000 Adey Rat NADC-836 Brain 6 2004 Sommer Mouse UMTS-1966 Hematopoietic

4 2001 Imaida Mouse TDMA-1490 Skin 7 2007 Oberto Mouse GSM-902 Hematopoietic

5 2001 Heikkinen Mouse GSM-902 Skin 8 2007 Saran Mouse GSM-900 Brain

6 2001 Zook Rat TDMA-860 Brain 9 2007 Sommer Mouse UMTS-1966 Hematopoietic

7 2002 Bartsch Rat GSM-900 Mammary 10 2011 Lee Mouse 1950 PW Hematopoietic

8 2003 Anane Rat GSM-900 Mammary 11 1998a Frei Mouse 2450 Breast

9 2003 Yu Rat GSM-900 Mammary 12 1998b Frei Mouse 2450 Breast

10 2005 Huang Mouse CDMA-849 Skin Co - Carcinogenesis Model11 2005 Shirai Rat TDMA-1439 Brain 1 1982 Szmigielski Mouse 2450 Skin

12 2006 Zook Rat TDMA-860 Brain 2 1982 Szudzinski Mouse 2450 Skin

13 2007 Shirai Rat UMTS-1950 Brain 3 1998 Wu Mouse 2450 Colon

14 2008 Hruby Rat GSM-900 Mammary 4 2003 Heikkinen Mouse GSM-902 Skin

15 2011 Paulraj Mouse 2450 Skin 5 2006 Heikkinen Rat 900 Vascular

16 2011 Mason Mouse 94000 CW Skin 6 2010 Tillmann Mouse UMTS Lung, Liver

Carcinogenicity in Animals SUMMARY

Number ofStudies

ExcessTumors

TumorType

Two-Year Bioassays 5 0 -

Tumor - Prone Animals 12 1 Breast

1 Hematopoietic

Initiation - Promotion Model 18 1 Mammary

Co - Carcinogenesis Model 6 1 Liver

1 Lung

1 Skin

1 Vascular

Total 47 7

LIMITED EVIDENCE

Carcinogenicity in HumansEpidemiological Studies

Cancers in Brain

Other Cancers

Other Cancers in HumansChildhood Cancers

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Parotid Gland Tumor

Pituitary Tumors

Salivary Gland Tumors

Uveal Melanoma

NO SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION with Mobile Phone Use

Brain Cancer in HumansEpidemiological Studies

including INTERPHONE

Cancers in Brain INTERPHONE

Largest International Collaboration Study( Glioma, Meningioma & Acoustic Neuroma )

13 CountriesAustralia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, UK.

16 CentersInterview – Based, Case – Control Investigation

2409 cases MENINGIOMA - 2662 controls

2709 cases GLIOMA - 2972 controls

matched for Age, Gender & Area of Residence

International Journal of Epidemiology, 39, 675 – 694, 2010

Conclusions INTERPHONE

NO INCREASED RISKGlioma or Meningioma in mobile phone users.

Suggestions of an increased riskGlioma at the highest exposure levels.

Bias and Error prevented causal interpretation.

International Journal of Epidemiology, 39, 675 – 694, 2010

Carcinogenicity in HumansSUMMARY

Epidemiological Studies

including INTERPHONE

LIMITED EVIDENCE

IARCScientific Weight of Evidence

Radiofrequency Frequency FieldsPOSSIBLY

Carcinogenic to Humans

Group 2-B Details were published in 2013

IARC Monograph, volume 102 “ Non-ionizing Radiation, Part II, Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields

International Agency for Research on CancerCCC

IARC CLASSIFICATIONOther Agents

Class Agent

Group 1(Carcinogenic)

AsbestosIonizing Radiation

Tobacco

Group 2-A( Probable, >50% risk )

AcrylamideStyrene

UV Radiation

Group 2-B( Possible, <50% risk )

ChloroformCoffee

ELF/ RFGroup 3

Lack of Evidence

PolystyreneTea

Surgical Implants

Group 4Not Carcinogen

Caprolactum( Precursor to Nylon )

International / National Experts Evaluations

( since 2012 )

Precautionary ApproachLimit the Number of calls

Reduce the Duration of Calls

Use Hands-Free Devices

Use Land-Line More

Further Long-Term Exposure Studies

Further Research in Children

ADVANGES OF MOBILE PHONES

2013World Health Organization

Environmental Health Criteria

THANK YOU !