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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Caution call before proof

Caution call before proof

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published Published on Jun 2, 2011   modified Modified on Jun 2, 2011
-The Telegraph
 
A World Health Organisation panel’s decision to tag mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic” has set off one of the most intense debates involving an everyday device that touches the lives of 5 billion people worldwide.

The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified electromagnetic radiation in the category of agents such as lead, styrene, even coffee, for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence in animals.

While everyone agrees that more research is needed before any definite link between cancer and cellphone radiation can be established, IARC officials have urged consumers to exercise caution while research continues. Some experts have said the use of cellphones by children should be limited.

While waiting for results of future studies, “it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices and texting”, Christopher Wild, IARC director, said in a statement.

“Modern mobile phones may be emitting lower levels (of electromagnetic radiation) but there has been an explosion of consumers and people may be talking longer,” said Nicolas Gaudin, a spokesperson for the IARC.

Cellphones emit non-ionising radiation, waves of energy that are too weak to break chemical bonds or set off the DNA damage known to cause cancers. Scientists have said repeatedly that there is no known biological mechanism to explain how non-ionising radiation might lead to cancer or other health problems.

The IARC has called for more studies given the changing patterns of mobile phone use, particularly by young people who, it said, are known to use phones for an hour or more a day.

“More research is certainly needed before a firm link between mobile phone use and brain cancer can be established,” Kurt Straif, a senior IARC official, told The Telegraph.

The IARC decision has stimulated a call for information about exposure levels. “I think manufacturers of mobile phones should make available exposure data relating to their handsets in a way that consumers can understand,” said Mona Bhatia, a radiologist at a private health-care institution in New Delhi.

But industry groups immediately sought to play down the decision, stressing the “possibly carcinogenic” category also includes substances such as pickled vegetables and coffee.

Industry sources had contributed 5.5 million euros to the 13-country study that had an overall funding of 19.2 million euros. Part of this industry contribution (3.5 million euros) came from a forum of mobile manufacturers. Mobile phone operators also contributed to the study. But IARC said this industry funding came through a “firewall mechanism” to guarantee the independence of scientists.

John Walls, vice-president of public affairs for the US-based wireless association CTIA, noted the IARC working group did not conduct any new research, but reviewed published studies.

Meir Stampfer, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and a paid adviser for the cellphone industry, said it was important to remember that the panel’s decision to rank cellphones as a “possible” carcinogen was very different from saying that they pose a real health risk.

“Comparing this to going out in the sun or any number of normal everyday activities that we’re not really concerned about, I would put cellphones in the lower part of that category,’’ Stampfer said.

Still, Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News, a newsletter that focuses on non-ionising radiation, said: “It’s a wake-up call for the telecom industry and for the government to take cellphone radiation seriously. The first step should be limiting the use of cellphones by children.”

Henry C. Lai, a professor of bio-engineering, said the credibility of the WHO panel made it difficult to dismiss the findings. “The debate will go on, except this is the first statement from the WHO saying we should be careful with exposure to this kind of radiation,’’ he said. “If someone says this panel isn’t good, I don’t know who else we should be listening to.”

“A precautionary approach is the best policy,” he added. “If people use cellphones, they should consider using an earpiece. Just keep the phone away from the head.”

Some experts said the ruling shouldn’t change people’s cellphone habits. “This is not something I worry about and it will not in any way change how I use my cellphone,” Donald Berry, a biostatistics professor in Texas, said — from his cellphone.

REPORTING BY G.S. MUDUR AND INPUTS FROM NYTNS AND AP

The Telegraph, 2 June, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110602/jsp/frontpage/story_14061011.jsp


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