[ EMF-Link Home
| Online Store
| Comments ]
To date, neither the federal government nor the telecommunications industry has completed any studies to determine specifically if the use of portable cellular telephones poses health risks. While a few recent studies suggest that long-term exposure to low levels of radio-frequency radiation (similar to that emitted by portable cellular telephones) may prompt interactions within and among cells and organs that could possibly lead to adverse effects, other studies do not. FDA and EPA agree that the research completed to date is insufficient to determine whether using portable cellular telephones presents risks to human health.
The two basic sources of evidence of the relationship between a potential risk factor, such as exposure to radio-frequency radiation, and a disease are epidemiological studies (statistical studies that relate the occurrence of a disease to the characteristics of people and their environment) and laboratory studies on animals and biological tissue samples. According to FDA and the National Science Foundation, both types of research are needed to determine whether cellular telephone use poses any health risks.
To date, no epidemiological studies have been conducted of human exposure to radio-frequency radiation as a result of using cellular telephones. Some recent biological and behavioral laboratory studies on animals and cell samples have provided information on the potential health effects posed by low-level exposure to radio- frequency radiation, although none has examined radiation exposure specifically from cellular telephones. FDA has questioned the interpretation, significance, or applicability of the studies' findings to cellular telephones. According to EPA, the significance of recent research suggesting a potential for adverse health effects cannot be determined until these studies have been independently confirmed. Because of the limitations of the research, FDA and EPA agree that more research would be necessary to determine whether portable cellular telephones pose a human health risk.
The following are examples of some research results that scientists say have raised questions about exposure to low-level radiation similar to that emitted by portable cellular telephones, especially pulse-modulated radiation, which is comparable to digital signals. (See appendix III for more information about some of these studies and app. IV for a list of other relevant studies.)
Although these and a few other studies suggest that exposure to low levels of radio-frequency radiation may cause effects in animals and certain cell systems, other studies do not. For example, in a 1993 study , researchers injected brain tumor cells into rats and exposed them to low levels of radio-frequency radiation--near the frequency that cellular telephones use that was either continuous (as in analog technology) or pulsed 50 times per second (as in digital technology). The rats were exposed for 5 days a week until clinical signs of tumor development occurred. Researchers found no evidence that radio-frequency radiation treatment altered the course of tumor development in the rats.
Several federal agencies sponsor radiation research, but none has sponsored or performed any studies on portable cellular telephones. Of 15 federal departments and agencies we contacted, only 4 had conducted, funded, or planned research on radio-frequency radiation that these agencies said may be relevant to questions about the safety of cellular telephones. These four were FDA, the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Defense. Only NCI has planned research that specifically focuses on portable cellular telephone use.
FDA is not performing or contracting for research specifically addressing the power levels or frequencies of cellular telephones. However, FDA officials said that some research the agency supports may be relevant to safety questions about these telephones. According to officials, FDA-supported research at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory found that permanent damage occurred to the eyes of test animals when the animals were exposed to low-level microwave radiation. According to one of the researchers, this effect was enhanced when the test animals were treated with drugs commonly used in glaucoma treatment and exposed to radio- frequency radiation at power levels several times lower than those typically emitted by portable cellular] telephones
In 1993, NCI launched an epidemiological study to assess the relationship between the use of cellular telephones, among other variables, and the brain cancer newly diagnosed in 800 patients. An NCI official expects this study to be completed between 1998 and 1999. In addition, NCI has planned other epidemiological studies to determine whether (1) exposure to radio-frequency radiation, among other possible risk factors, is associated with an increased risk of brain tumors, and (2) the incidence of cancer can possibly be linked with the use of portable cellular telephones. These ;studies involve comparing the names on lists of cellular telephone users in New York State with the names on New York's statewide cancer registry. according to NCI, these studies should be initiated during 1995. However, it s important to note that epidemiological studies do not prove causality between two factors; they merely show that two factors, such as exposure to radio-frequency radiation and a disease such as cancer, tend to occur together.
In 1990, NIST measured the amount of radiation emitted by portable police radios operated at frequencies near those used by portable cellular telephones. NIST researchers found that the strength of the electric fields emanating from the police radios exceeded the exposure levels recommended as safe under the 1982 ANSI standard. However, this study did not attempt to assess whether exposure to these electric field emissions could present risks to human health.
DOD Is sponsoring research into the biological effects of radio-frequency radiation but not radiation from portable cellular telephones. However, with the anticipated proliferation of new telecommunications devices, DOD supports continued work to characterize and measure the absorption and distribution of radio-frequency energy in the human body. The Department's official position is that harmful effects will not occur as a result of exposure to portable cellular telephones as long as the amount of radio-frequency energy absorbed by the human body is maintained at or below permissible levels. DOD relies on the permissible levels" recommended by the 1982 ANSI standard, which states that devices operating on 7 watts of power or less, like portable cellular telephones, are not likely to exceed permissible levels.
We identified two major efforts by the cellular telephone industry to specifically address the safety of portable cellular telephones: one sponsored by Motorola, Inc., and one proposed by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), a cellular telephone industry association.
In 1991, Motorola, Inc., entered into a multiyear contract with a researcher - considered by many in the scientific community to be the most eminent U.S. researcher in this area - to conduct a series of laboratory studies on radio-frequency radiation from portable cellular telephones. These studies are examining the effects of analog and digital signals from these telephones on animals and cells but do not include studies of effects on humans. Results from the animal studies are anticipated within the year.
In January 1993, in response to public concern that portable cellular telephones may cause health risks, including brain cancer, CTIA announced an initiative to spend from $15 million to $25 million over the next 3 to 5 years to fund studies addressing the safety of portable cellular telephones. In May 1993, CTIA, along with other members of the cellular telephone industry, established a Science Advisory Group on Cellular Telephone Safety. The science advisory group's planned research agenda includes multidisciplinary studies involving epidemiology, cell cultures, test animals, and genetic research. The research will examine the effects of exposure to analog and digital radio-frequency radiation at the power levels and frequencies that cellular telephones use and that personal communications devices will use. The research agenda also includes scientific peer review of proposed research projects by a separate board coordinated through the Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis.
The chairman of the science advisory group also informed us that CTIA funds the group's activities on a monthly basis; each month the chairman submits an estimate of costs for the coming month, and CTIA provides money for that month's research activities. The chairman explained that the peer review board will evaluate and recommend research proposals for funding. According to the chairman, payment for peer review activities will be provided through a blind trust established by the advisory group. The chairman stated that the purpose of creating the blind trust for peer review was to provide independence. However, the science advisory group does not enjoy similar financial independence. The direct funding of the research by CTIA raises questions about the objectivity and credibility of the research effort. In September 1994, the chairman of the science advisory group told us that CTIA would consider giving up direct financial control by putting the research funds into a blind trust fund.
In September 1993, FDA told the chairman of the science advisory group that the agency would like to provide appropriate support within its means to assist in ensuring that the industry-sponsored research program was successful and credible. As a regulatory agency, FDA considers that reviewing research data and commenting on it is part of its job. However, the agency is reluctant to endorse research that is not yet completed resulting from programs it has not helped direct. Although the science advisory group has sought input from federal agencies and has had informal discussions with officials at FDA and EPA, no mechanism has been established for federal participation in or comments on the research program. However, in September 1994 the advisory group's chairman told us that he was open to any role for federal agencies to increase the acceptance and usefulness of the research program.
FDA and EPA believe that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether exposure to low-level radio- frequency radiation presents a human health risk. Some recent studies have found that this radiation can produce biological effects. However, because none of these studies examined radio-frequency radiation specifically from portable cellular telephones, FDA and EPA agree that the value of the studies' findings is limited in determining whether using portable cellular telephones poses risks to human health.
FDA and National Science Foundation officials said that both epidemiological and laboratory research are needed to determine whether portable cellular telephones present risks to users. The federal government and private industry are beginning to undertake some of this needed research. NCI (the only federal agency performing research on the safety of cellular telephones) has started an epidemiological study to determine if there is a relationship between cellular telephone use and cancer. But epidemiological studies alone cannot conclusively establish whether using portable cellular telephones poses health risks. Motorola is funding a series of laboratory studies on the effects of radiation from portable cellular telephones on animals and cells but no epidemiological studies observing the effects on humans.
The cellular telephone industry is sponsoring a research initiative through a science advisory board that includes both types of research that federal officials say is needed. However, direct funding of this research by CTIA— an industry association raises questions about the independence and objectivity of the science advisory group's planned research program. The chairman of the science advisory group has had informal discussions with federal agencies and has expressed a willingness to accept a greater federal role to increase the independence and objectivity of the research. Such a role could also increase the usefulness of the research results to federal regulators. To date, neither the science advisory group nor any of the federal agencies have attempted to define what this role might entail.