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Use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the use of cellular and cordless telephones as the risk factor for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Methods: Male and female subjects aged 18–74 years living in Sweden were included during a period from 1 December 1999 to 30 April 2002. Controls were selected from the national population registry. Exposure to different agents was assessed by questionnaire. Results: In total, 910 (91%) cases and 1016 (92%) controls participated. NHL of the B-cell type was not associated with the use of cellular or cordless telephones. Regarding T-cell NHL and >5 year latency period, the use of analogue cellular phones yielded: odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95%; confidence interval (CI) = 0.58–3.70, digital: OR=1.92, 95%; CI=0.77–4.80 and cordless phones: OR=2.47; CI=1.09–5.60. The corresponding results for certain, e.g. cutaneous and leukaemia, T-cell lymphoma for analogue phones were: OR=3.41, 95%; CI=0.78–15.0, digital: OR=6.12, 95%; CI=1.26–29.7 and cordless phones: OR=5.48, 95%; CI=1.26–23.9. Conclusions: The results indicate an association between T-cell NHL and the use of cellular and cordless telephones, however based on low numbers and must be interpreted with caution. Regarding B-cell NHL no association was found.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by grant no 2001–0224 from FAS, Cancer-och Allergifonden, Nyckelfonden, Örebro University Hospital Cancer Fund. Ms Iréne Larsson participated in the data collection and Matz Eriksson performed interviews. We thank cytologist Edneia Tani and pathologists Måns Åkerman, Göran Roos, Anna Porwit-MacDonald and Åke Öst for extensive review of the tumour material.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Lennart Hardell

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

    Lennart Hardell

  3. Department of Oncology, University Hospital, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Mikael Eriksson

  4. Department of Oncology, University Hospital, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Michael Carlberg

  5. Department of Pathology, Akademiska Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Christer Sundström

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

    Kjell Hansson Mild

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

    Kjell Hansson Mild

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  1. Lennart Hardell
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  2. Mikael Eriksson
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  3. Michael Carlberg
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  4. Christer Sundström
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  5. Kjell Hansson Mild
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Correspondence to Lennart Hardell.

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Hardell, L., Eriksson, M., Carlberg, M. et al. Use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 625–632 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0003-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0003-5

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