Southern California Risk

/ Electromagnetic fields generated by frequencies of such devices are considered to be possibly carcinogenic to humans. One study found a 40% increase in the risk of brain cancer among users employing thirty minutes a day over a period of ten years. The World Health Organization (who) and the International Agency for research in Cancer (IARC) have linked the use of mobile phones with a possible risk of brain cancer in humans. Both organizations have said this Tuesday in Lyon (Southeast France) electromagnetic fields generated by frequencies of such devices are considered to be possibly carcinogenic to humans and therefore are classified in Category 2B. WHO and IARC based its decision of that classification in the evidence on the impact of these electromagnetic fields in the origin of gliomas, a malignant type of brain cancer. Although not quantified the risk, the WHO-IARC working group referred to a study, with data up to 2004, detected a 40% increase in the risk of glioma among the most frequent users of mobile, i.e. those who employed them average thirty minutes a day over a period of ten years.

However, he explained that the evidence of the risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma are limited to mobile users, which means that there is an association positive credible between exposure to the agent and cancer, but that other factors in the development of this can not be excluded. The head of the working group formed by the who and IARC, Jonathan Samet of the University of Southern California, said that the evidence gathered so far are solid enough () for the classification of the type 2B. Evidence limited carcinogenicity this category is one that the IARC uses to identify environmental factors that can increase the risk of cancer in humans and between the There are chemical substances, occupational exposures, and biological, and physical agents among others. Since 1971, the IARC has analyzed more than 900 agents, of which approximately 400 have been identified as carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic to humans. Group 2B includes agents which have a limited carcinogenicity in humans and the 2A evidence those who are probably carcinogenic to humans. In the first group, 1?, the IARC includes agents for which has sufficient evidence that are carcinogenic to humans.

The conclusion of the working group which presented its results in Lyon is that there could be some risk and that, therefore, we must closely monitor the link between mobile phones and cancer risk, said Samet. Christopher Wild, IARC director, added that, given the potential consequences of these results, this classification for public health, it is important that investigation into more long-term intensive use of mobile. In the absence of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure to devices such as the handsfree or sending text messages, said Wild. Source of the news: who warns of the possible risk of brain cancer by the use of mobile