Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Increased incidence of cancer near a cell-phone transmitter station epidem.

Published in: Int J Canc Prev 2004; 1 (2): 123-128
Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A study was conducted in Israel to determine whether the incidence of cancer cases among individuals exposed to a mobile phone base station is different from that expected in Israel, in Netanya, or as compared to people who lived in a nearby area.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 inhabitants of Netanya
Reference group 2 persons in area B living in a distance to base station: > 350 m
Group 3 persons in area A living in a distance to base station: ≤ 350 m

Population

Study size

Type Value
Total 622
Other:

total 8 cases: 7 cases in women (3 cases of breast carcinoma, 1 case of ovary carcinoma, lung carcinoma, Hodgkin disease, osteoid osteoma); 1 male case (hypernephroma)

Statistical analysis method:

Results (acc. to author)

Of the 622 people of area A, 8 cases of different kinds of cancer were diagnosed in a period of one year (from July 1997 - June 1998). The cancer incidence rate was 129 cases per 10,000 persons per year in area A compared to 16/10,000 in area B and 31/10,000 in the town of Netanya. Relative cancer rates for females were 10.5 for area A, 0.6 for area B and 1 for Netanya.
The authors conclude that the study indicates an association between increased incidence of cancer and living in proximity to a mobile phone base station.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The latency period of less than 2 years was very short.

Study funded by

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