Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Definitive Cell Phone/Cancer Study Reveals Nothing Definitively

by Terrence O'Brien on May 17, 2010 at 04:35 PM

cell phone cancer link inconclusiveThe World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (or IARC) planned to release a study later today that was supposed to end the debate over the health risks of cell phone usage. Some media outlets broke the news before the afternoon embargo and published articles alternately declaring the study the ultimate proof that cell phones cause cancer or proclaiming the IARC research proves nothing.

The research involved over 13,000 participants from 13 countries over a ten year period. The study revealed that heavy mobile users (defined as a minimum of 30 minutes a day for ten years) exhibited some increased risk for developing a specific type of brain tumor, but the researchers called even that result into doubt. Lead researcher Elisabeth Cardis told Reuters, "there are indications of a possible increase. We're not sure that it is correct. It could be due to bias."

Because the study relied largely on participants reporting their own cell phone usage, there is concern that results may be exaggerated. Additionally, the study used nearly 10 year old data. In the past decade, usage patterns have changed drastically; cell phones are used more for sending text messages or browsing the Web and less for placing phone calls.

Additionally, as Ars Technica points out, improvements in technology have lessened the power of signals pumped out by handsets. For all but the heaviest users of cell phones, the study actually showed a slightly lowered risk of cancer (versus non-mobile callers). A result that, while not impossible, is highly unlikely. The researches suggested that this indicated a problem with the methodology.

The technology is still very young and constantly evolving, and negative long-term effects cannot be ruled out. Unfortunately, despite alarmist headlines from the likes of the Times, the $24.4 million IARC study leaves us right where we started. [From: Reuters, Times Online and Ars Technica]

Tags: cancer, cellphones, CellPhonesAndCancer, health, iarc, radiation, research, science, top, who, World Health Organization, WorldHealthOrganization

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular