Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk epidem.

Published in: Am J Epidemiol 2005; 161 (6): 526-535

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The purpose of this Swedish population-based, case-control study was to investigate whether long-term mobile phone use increases the risk of brain tumors. The study is part of the INTERPHONE project.

Further details

Regular use of a mobile phone was defined as use on average once per week during at least 6 months.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 unexposed: never or rarely used
Group 2 regular use
Group 3 duration of regular use < 5 years
Group 4 duration of regular use 5-9 years
Group 5 duration of regular use ≥ 10 years
Group 6 time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 7 time since first regular use 5-9 years
Group 8 time since first regular use ≥ 10 years
Group 9 cumulative use < 30 hours
Group 10 cumulative use 30-499 hours
Group 11 cumulative use ≥ 500 hours
Group 12 cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use < 30 hours
Group 13 cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use 30-499 hours
Group 14 cumulative use adjusted for hands-free use ≥ 500 hours
Group 15 cumulative number of calls < 650
Group 16 cumulative number of calls 650-8549
Group 17 cumulative number of calls ≥ 8550
Group 18 digital phones regular use
Group 19 digital phones, time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 20 digital phones, time since first regular use ≥ 5 years
Group 21 analog phones regular use
Group 22 analog phones, time since first regular use < 5 years
Group 23 analog phones, time since first regular use 5-9 years
Group 24 analog phones, time since first regular use ≥ 10 years

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Eligible 819 956
Participants 644 674
Participation rate 78 % 71 %
Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

No increased risk for the brain tumors glioma and meningioma related to mobile phone use was found, regardless of tumor histology, type of phone, and duration of use.

Study funded by

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