Are Cell Phones Safe? Questions & Answers
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Expert Urges Limited Use; Get Answers to Questions About Cell
Phone Safety
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDJuly 24, 2008
-- Confused about cell phone safety? Many people were after seeing headlines about a controversial
memo issued by a prominent cancer expert to his staff recommending limiting cell phone use,
especially in kids, because of possible cancer risk.
The memo was reportedly sent yesterday by Ronald B. Herberman, MD, director of the University of
Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, to his staff. Media reports about the memo sparked concern among cell
phone users and criticism from the wireless industry.
Here are answers to questions about Herberman's memo, the science on cell phone safety, and
whether you should set limits for your kids -- and yourself -- to minimize risk.
What was in the cell phone memo?
A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center spokeswoman tells WebMD that Herberman was not
available to comment on the memo and that the memo wasn't available for her to forward.
According to the Associated Press, Herberman's memo recommends that children use cell phones
only in emergencies because their brains are still developing, and that adults should keep cell
phones away from their head, using the speakerphone or a wireless headset. Similar advice is also
posted in an article on the web site of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's Center for
Environmental Oncology.
What was the memo based on?
Herberman's memo reportedly acknowledges that his concern is based on early, unpublished data
-- not published studies -- and on caution that science moves slowly and that it's better to be "safe
rather than sorry later," the Associated Press quotes Herberman as saying.
What does the FDA say?
The FDA hasn't posted a specific reply to Herberman's memo, but the FDA's web site has lots of
information on cell phones and health.
"The available evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using wireless
phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe," states background
information on the FDA's web site.
The FDA explains that wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency (RF) while being used and
very low levels of RF in standby mode.
"Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating tissues), exposure to low-level RF
that does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects," the FDA states.
"Many studies of low-level RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies have
suggested that some biological effects may occur, but such findings have not been confirmed by
additional research. In some cases, other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing these
studies, or in determining the reasons for inconsistent results."
What does the American Cancer Society say?
Michael Thun, MD, is the American Cancer Society's vice president for epidemiology and
surveillance research.
"The first thing we say is that if someone is concerned about the risk of cell phones, you can
virtually eliminate your exposure by using a headset or a speaker phone or having the phone farther
from your ear," Thun tells WebMD.
"With respect to the science ... we, and the epidemiologists who I respect who are involved in this, find the
evidence to be much, much weaker than it's being presented by some proponents," says Thun, noting that cell
phone emissions are "not ionizing radiation that damages DNA" and that of the 17 studies on cell phone use and
brain cancer, only two have suggested an association, and those studies' methodologies are "weaker than some
of the larger, better studies."
Thun points out that in Sweden, one of the countries where cell phones caught on early, up to 25 years of data
show no signs of increased brain cancer rates. He also says that the American Cancer Society is "seriously
considering" convening an independent group of scientists to look at the epidemiologic data.
But Thun notes that cell phones are widely used and that "the evidence is quite extensive, but incomplete in
important ways." For instance, he says more studies are needed on the long-term effects of children's cell phone
use.
"On the one hand, it's important to be prudent and have an appropriate level of caution, and on the other hand, it's
important not to sound false alarms, because they, too, have unintended consequences. If you sound too many of
them, nobody believes anything you say, and if there is not a problem, they distract attention away from real
problems, of which we have a lot."
What does the American Academy of Pediatrics say?
Paul Fisher, MD, MHS, leads the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on neurology. He's also an
associate professor of neurology at Stanford University and the Beirne family medical director of the Center for
Children's Brain Tumors at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't have an official stance on kids' cell phone use, Fisher tells WebMD.
"There is no established cancer risk in children from cell phones, nor in adults," Fisher says. He notes that
researchers from the largest study, which is ongoing in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, and includes
children as well as adults, "all agree there is really no compelling evidence there whatsoever that cell phones are
associated with brain tumors or other tumors in children."
"We're not seeing any increased risk, not seeing any association; we're not seeing any new tumors; we're not
seeing any changes in tumor patterns" in the research, Fisher says.
As for concerns about salivary gland tumors or behavioral problems in kids whose moms used cell phones
during pregnancy, Fisher says, "these are all small studies here and there and there's really nothing to indicate a
health risk."
"As scientists, we certainly keep our minds and eyes open," Fisher says. "But there's just nothing out there, and
parents should be reassured that there is no established risk, and they should feel good about the choices they
make for their children
Should parents limit kids' cell phone use?
Fisher, who spoke to WebMD via cell phone, says he sees good reason to limit kids' cell phone use -- just not out
of cancer fears.
"I restrict my own kids' use of cell phones. We don't sit in bed and talk on our cell phones at night, and we don't
get to use them when we're 5 years old. But that's more about good parenting and parental choice than about
science," Fisher says.
"Common sense should prevail," he says, noting that kids can get distracted by cell phones. "I don't think kids
should be given unrestrained access 24-7 to cell phones. It should be limited. But it shouldn't be done because of
paranoia or fear of perceived risks that aren't established."
Setting limits "out of your own philosophy and life choices, that's very different than doing it out paranoia. That's
why I'm disappointed by the statement from the folks in Pittsburgh ... it's not an appeal to healthy living and happy
development for children, it's an appeal to people's paranoia about modern living."
What does the wireless industry say?
Here's what Joe Farren, assistant vice president for CTIA -- the Wireless Association (the industry group for
wireless communication, including cell phones), says.
"We have always believed this issue must be guided by science. And when you examine the overwhelming
majority of studies that have been peer-reviewed and published in scientific journals, you'll find no link between
wireless usage and adverse health effects," Farren tells WebMD.
"This isn't just our opinion. This is the view of leading global health organizations such as the American Cancer
Society, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."
Farren notes that Herberman's views "are not based on scientific evidence."
What does the research say?
No studies have proven that cell phones cause brain cancer or other health problems. But none has ruled out
health risks once and for all, either.
Here's a quick recap of recent studies on cell phone use and cancer. These studies don't directly test cell phones
to see if they cause cancer; rather, they're observational studies in large groups of people. Observational studies
don't prove cause and effect.
In February 2008, Israeli researchers reported no overall increase in the risk of tumors in the parotid gland (a
salivary gland) with regular cell phone use, with a possible (but not confirmed) increase in risk in people who use
cell phones a lot more than normal. That contradicts a Swedish study published in 2006 that showed no
increased risk of parotid gland tumors for any amount of cell phone use.
In 2007, French and Norwegian studies published in European journals showed no increased risk of brain tumors
in adults from regular cell phone use.
A 2006 Danish study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed no link between brain
tumors and cell phone use among people who had had cell phones for up to 21 years.
Not all cell phone research has been related to cancer.
In May 2008, a study published online in Epidemiology showed a statistical association between cell phone use
during pregnancy and increased risk of children's behavior problems. That study did not prove that cell phones
were to blame.
And in September 2007, researchers in India reported that longtime cell phone users who talk more than an hour
a day may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss.
There is one safety risk that is established -- you shouldn't talk on your cell phone while driving, says the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What additional research is needed?
A report issued by the National Research Council in January 2008 called for further research on topics including
studies of children and pregnant women. The council drafted that report after the FDA asked for a wish list of
research topics related to wireless communication safety.
Does the FDA test cell phone safety?
No. The FDA doesn't review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products, such as wireless phones, before
they can be sold. But the FDA has the authority to take action if wireless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency
at levels that are dangerous to users.