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Pooled analysis of two case–control studies on use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours diagnosed in 1997–2003

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Abstract

Objectives: To study the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours. Methods: Two case–control studies on malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1997–2003 included answers from 905 (90%) cases and 2,162 (89%) controls aged 20–80 years. We present pooled analysis of the results in the two studies. Results: Cumulative lifetime use for >2,000 h yielded for analogue cellular phones odds ratio (OR)=5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.5–14, digital cellular phones OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.7–7.7, and for cordless phones OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.5–3.6. Ipsilateral exposure increased the risk for malignant brain tumours; analogue OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.5–2.9, digital OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.4–2.4, and cordless OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3–2.2. For high-grade astrocytoma using >10 year latency period analogue phones yielded OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.8–4.2, digital phones OR=3.8, 95% CI=1.8–8.1, and cordless phones OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.3–3.9. In the multivariate analysis all phone types increased the risk. Regarding digital phones OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.5–9.1 and cordless phones OR=2.1, 95% CI=0.97–4.6 were calculated for malignant brain tumours for subjects with first use use <20 years of age, higher than in older persons. Conclusion: Increased risk was obtained for both cellular and cordless phones, highest in the group with >10 years latency period.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from Cancer-och Allergifonden, Cancerhjälpen, Nyckelfonden, Örebro Cancer Fund

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, University Hospital, 701 85, Örebro, Sweden

    Lennart Hardell & Michael Carlberg

  2. Department of Natural Sciences, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Lennart Hardell & Kjell Hansson Mild

  3. National Institute for Working Life, 907 13, Umeå, Sweden

    Kjell Hansson Mild

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  1. Lennart Hardell
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  2. Michael Carlberg
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  3. Kjell Hansson Mild
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Correspondence to Lennart Hardell.

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Hardell, L., Carlberg, M. & Hansson Mild, K. Pooled analysis of two case–control studies on use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours diagnosed in 1997–2003. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 79, 630–639 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0088-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0088-5

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