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Karipidis K, Baaken D, Loney T, Blettner M, Brzozek C, Elwood M, Narh C, Orsini N, Röösli M, Paulo MS, Lagorio S. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies - Part I: Most researched outcomes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 191:108983. [PMID: 39241333 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this review was to assess the quality and strength of the evidence provided by human observational studies for a causal association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and risk of the most investigated neoplastic diseases. METHODS Eligibility criteria: We included cohort and case-control studies of neoplasia risks in relation to three types of exposure to RF-EMF: near-field, head-localized, exposure from wireless phone use (SR-A); far-field, whole body, environmental exposure from fixed-site transmitters (SR-B); near/far-field occupational exposures from use of hand-held transceivers or RF-emitting equipment in the workplace (SR-C). While no restrictions on tumour type were applied, in the current paper we focus on incidence-based studies of selected "critical" neoplasms of the central nervous system (brain, meninges, pituitary gland, acoustic nerve) and salivary gland tumours (SR-A); brain tumours and leukaemias (SR-B, SR-C). We focussed on investigations of specific neoplasms in relation to specific exposure sources (i.e. E-O pairs), noting that a single article may address multiple E-O pairs. INFORMATION SOURCES Eligible studies were identified by literature searches through Medline, Embase, and EMF-Portal. Risk-of-bias (RoB) assessment: We used a tailored version of the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) RoB tool to evaluate each study's internal validity. At the summary RoB step, studies were classified into three tiers according to their overall potential for bias (low, moderate and high). DATA SYNTHESIS We synthesized the study results using random effects restricted maximum likelihood (REML) models (overall and subgroup meta-analyses of dichotomous and categorical exposure variables), and weighted mixed effects models (dose-response meta-analyses of lifetime exposure intensity). Evidence assessment: Confidence in evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. RESULTS We included 63 aetiological articles, published between 1994 and 2022, with participants from 22 countries, reporting on 119 different E-O pairs. RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones (ever or regular use vs no or non-regular use) was not associated with an increased risk of glioma [meta-estimate of the relative risk (mRR) = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.89-1.13), meningioma (mRR = 0.92, 95 % CI = 0.82-1.02), acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 0.85-1.24), pituitary tumours (mRR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.61-1.06), salivary gland tumours (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.78-1.06), or paediatric (children, adolescents and young adults) brain tumours (mRR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.51), with variable degree of across-study heterogeneity (I2 = 0 %-62 %). There was no observable increase in mRRs for the most investigated neoplasms (glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma) with increasing time since start (TSS) use of mobile phones, cumulative call time (CCT), or cumulative number of calls (CNC). Cordless phone use was not significantly associated with risks of glioma [mRR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.46; I2 = 74 %) meningioma, (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.70-1.18; I2 = 59 %), or acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.16; 95 % CI = 0.83-1.61; I2 = 63 %). Exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations) was not associated with childhood leukaemia or paediatric brain tumour risks, independently of the level of the modelled RF exposure. Glioma risk was not significantly increased following occupational RF exposure (ever vs never), and no differences were detected between increasing categories of modelled cumulative exposure levels. DISCUSSION In the sensitivity analyses of glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma risks in relation to mobile phone use (ever use, TSS, CCT, and CNC) the presented results were robust and not affected by changes in study aggregation. In a leave-one-out meta-analyses of glioma risk in relation to mobile phone use we identified one influential study. In subsequent meta-analyses performed after excluding this study, we observed a substantial reduction in the mRR and the heterogeneity between studies, for both the contrast Ever vs Never (regular) use (mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.87-1.07, I2 = 47 %), and in the analysis by increasing categories of TSS ("<5 years": mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.83-1.14, I2 = 41 %; "5-9 years ": mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.83-1.11, I2 = 34 %; "10+ years": mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.87-1.08, I2 = 10 %). There was limited variation across studies in RoB for the priority domains (selection/attrition, exposure and outcome information), with the number of studies evenly classified as at low and moderate risk of bias (49 % tier-1 and 51 % tier-2), and no studies classified as at high risk of bias (tier-3). The impact of the biases on the study results (amount and direction) proved difficult to predict, and the RoB tool was inherently unable to account for the effect of competing biases. However, the sensitivity meta-analyses stratified on bias-tier, showed that the heterogeneity observed in our main meta-analyses across studies of glioma and acoustic neuroma in the upper TSS stratum (I2 = 77 % and 76 %), was explained by the summary RoB-tier. In the tier-1 study subgroup, the mRRs (95 % CI; I2) in long-term (10+ years) users were 0.95 (0.85-1.05; 5.5 %) for glioma, and 1.00 (0.78-1.29; 35 %) for acoustic neuroma. The time-trend simulation studies, evaluated as complementary evidence in line with a triangulation approach for external validity, were consistent in showing that the increased risks observed in some case-control studies were incompatible with the actual incidence rates of glioma/brain cancer observed in several countries and over long periods. Three of these simulation studies consistently reported that RR estimates > 1.5 with a 10+ years induction period were definitely implausible, and could be used to set a "credibility benchmark". In the sensitivity meta-analyses of glioma risk in the upper category of TSS excluding five studies reporting implausible effect sizes, we observed strong reductions in both the mRR [mRR of 0.95 (95 % CI = 0.86-1.05)], and the degree of heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 3.6 %). CONCLUSIONS Consistently with the published protocol, our final conclusions were formulated separately for each exposure-outcome combination, and primarily based on the line of evidence with the highest confidence, taking into account the ranking of RF sources by exposure level as inferred from dosimetric studies, and the external coherence with findings from time-trend simulation studies (limited to glioma in relation to mobile phone use). For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from mobile phone use, there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, pituitary tumours, and salivary gland tumours in adults, or of paediatric brain tumours. For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from cordless phone use, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma. For whole-body far-field RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations), there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase childhood leukaemia risk and low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of paediatric brain tumours. There were no studies eligible for inclusion investigating RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters and critical tumours in adults. For occupational RF-EMF exposure, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of brain cancer/glioma, but there were no included studies of leukemias (the second critical outcome in SR-C). The evidence rating regarding paediatric brain tumours in relation to environmental RF exposure from fixed-site transmitters should be interpreted with caution, due to the small number of studies. Similar interpretative cautions apply to the evidence rating of the relation between glioma/brain cancer and occupational RF exposure, due to differences in exposure sources and metrics across the few included studies. OTHER This project was commissioned and partially funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Co-financing was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in its capacity as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health; and ARPANSA as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection. REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021236798. Published protocol: [(Lagorio et al., 2021) DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106828].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Karipidis
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, Australia.
| | - Dan Baaken
- Competence Center for Electromagnetic Fields, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Cottbus, Germany; Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany(1)
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maria Blettner
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany(1)
| | - Chris Brzozek
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Elwood
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clement Narh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health (Hohoe Campus), University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB31 Ho, Ghana
| | - Nicola Orsini
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marilia Silva Paulo
- Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Universidad NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Susanna Lagorio
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), Rome, Italy(1)
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van Wel L, Huss A, Kromhout H, Momoli F, Krewski D, Langer CE, Castaño-Vinyals G, Kundi M, Maule M, Miligi L, Sadetzki S, Albert A, Alguacil J, Aragones N, Badia F, Bruchim R, Goedhart G, de Llobet P, Kiyohara K, Kojimahara N, Lacour B, Morales-Suarez-Varela M, Radon K, Remen T, Weinmann T, Vrijheid M, Cardis E, Vermeulen R. Validation of mobile phone use recall in the multinational MOBI-kids study. Bioelectromagnetics 2024. [PMID: 38778512 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Potential differential and non-differential recall error in mobile phone use (MPU) in the multinational MOBI-Kids case-control study were evaluated. We compared self-reported MPU with network operator billing record data up to 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years before the interview date from 702 subjects aged between 10 and 24 years in eight countries. Spearman rank correlations, Kappa coefficients and geometric mean ratios (GMRs) were used. No material differences in MPU recall estimates between cases and controls were observed. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients between self-reported and recorded MPU in the most recent 3 months were 0.57 and 0.59 for call number and for call duration, respectively. The number of calls was on average underestimated by the participants (GMR = 0.69), while the duration of calls was overestimated (GMR = 1.59). Country, years since start of using a mobile phone, age at time of interview, and sex did not appear to influence recall accuracy for either call number or call duration. A trend in recall error was seen with level of self-reported MPU, with underestimation of use at lower levels and overestimation of use at higher levels for both number and duration of calls. Although both systematic and random errors in self-reported MPU among participants were observed, there was no evidence of differential recall error between cases and controls. Nonetheless, these sources of exposure measurement error warrant consideration in interpretation of the MOBI-Kids case-control study results on the association between children's use of mobile phones and potential brain cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Franco Momoli
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Krewski
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chelsea E Langer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gemma Castaño-Vinyals
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Kundi
- Center for Public Health, Institute of Environmental Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Milena Maule
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Lucia Miligi
- Unit of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, Prevention and Research Institute (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Siegal Sadetzki
- Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Alex Albert
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Alguacil
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CYSMA), Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Nuria Aragones
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Epidemiology Section, Public Health Division, Department of Health of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesc Badia
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Revital Bruchim
- Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Geertje Goedhart
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia de Llobet
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Brigitte Lacour
- French National Registry of Childhood Solid Tumors, CHU, Nancy, France
- Inserm UMR1153, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team (EPICEA), Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Maria Morales-Suarez-Varela
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Katja Radon
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Remen
- Inserm UMR1153, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team (EPICEA), Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Deltour I, Poulsen AH, Johansen C, Feychting M, Johannesen TB, Auvinen A, Schüz J. Time trends in mobile phone use and glioma incidence among males in the Nordic Countries, 1979-2016. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 168:107487. [PMID: 36041243 PMCID: PMC9463632 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the Nordic countries, the use of mobile phones increased sharply in the mid-1990s especially among middle-aged men. We investigated time trends in glioma incidence rates (IR) with the perspective to inform about the plausibility of brain tumour risks from mobile phone use reported in some case-control studies. METHODS We analysed IR of glioma in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden among men aged 40-69 years, using data from national cancer registries and population statistics during 1979-2016, using log-linear joinpoint analysis. Information on regular mobile phone use and amount of call-time was obtained from major studies of mobile phones in these countries. We compared annual observed incidence with that expected under various risk scenarios to assess which of the reported effect sizes are compatible with the observed IR. The expected numbers of cases were computed accounting for an impact of other factors besides mobile phone use, such as improved cancer registration. RESULTS Based on 18,232 glioma cases, IR increased slightly but steadily with a change of 0.1% (95 %CI 0.0%; 0.3%) per year during 1979-2016 among 40-59-year-old men and for ages 60-69, by 0.6 % (95 %CI 0.4; 0.9) annually. The observed IR trends among men aged 40-59 years were incompatible with risk ratios (RR) 1.08 or higher with a 10-year lag, RR ≥ 1.2 with 15-year lag and RR ≥ 1.5 with 20-year lag. For the age group 60-69 years, corresponding effect sizes RR ≥ 1.4, ≥2 and ≥ 2.5 could be rejected for lag times 10, 15 and 20 years. DISCUSSION This study confirms and reinforces the conclusions that no changes in glioma incidence in the Nordic countries have occurred that are consistent with a substantial risk attributable to mobile phone use. This particularly applies to virtually all reported risk increases reported by previous case-control studies with positive findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Deltour
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
| | | | | | - Maria Feychting
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Anssi Auvinen
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere, Finland; STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
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Instruments to measure environmental and personal radiofrequency-electromagnetic field exposures: an update. Phys Eng Sci Med 2022; 45:687-704. [PMID: 35737222 PMCID: PMC9448713 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-022-01146-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Modern human populations are exposed to anthropogenic sources of radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs), primarily to telecommunication and broadcasting technologies. As a result, ongoing concerns from some members of the public have arisen regarding potential health effects following RF-EMF exposures. In order to monitor human RF-EMF exposures and investigate potential health effects, an objective assessment of RF-EMF exposures is necessary. Accurate dosimetry is essential for any investigation of potential associations between RF-EMF exposure and health effects in human populations. This review updates state-of-the-art knowledge of currently available RF-EMF exposure assessment tools applicable in human epidemiological studies. These tools cater for assessing RF-EMF exposures in human environments; through mobile phone-based tools or other standalone tools. RF-EMF exposure assessment has been significantly improved through the application of some of these tools in recent years.
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Lagorio S, Blettner M, Baaken D, Feychting M, Karipidis K, Loney T, Orsini N, Röösli M, Paulo MS, Elwood M. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A protocol for a systematic review of human observational studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106828. [PMID: 34433115 PMCID: PMC8484862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) has an ongoing project to assess potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in the general and working population. Here we present the protocol for a systematic review of the scientific literature on cancer hazards from exposure to RF-EMF in humans, commissioned by the WHO as part of that project. OBJECTIVE To assess the quality and strength of the evidence provided by human observational studies for a causal association between exposure to RF-EMF and risk of neoplastic diseases. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We will include cohort and case-control studies investigating neoplasia risks in relation to three types of exposure to RF-EMF: near-field, head-localized, exposure from wireless phone use (SR-A); far-field, whole body, environmental exposure from fixed-site transmitters (SR-B); near/far-field occupational exposures from use of handheld transceivers or RF-emitting equipment in the workplace (SR-C). While no restriction on tumour type will be applied, we will focus on selected neoplasms of the central nervous system (brain, meninges, pituitary gland, acoustic nerve) and salivary gland tumours (SR-A); brain tumours and leukaemias (SR-B, SR-C). INFORMATION SOURCES Eligible studies will be identified through Medline, Embase, and EMF-Portal. RISK-OF-BIAS ASSESSMENT We will use a tailored version of the OHAT's tool to evaluate the study's internal validity. DATA SYNTHESIS We will consider separately studies on different tumours, neoplasm-specific risks from different exposure sources, and a given exposure-outcome pair in adults and children. When a quantitative synthesis of findings can be envisaged, the main aims of the meta-analysis will be to assess the strength of association and the shape of the exposure-response relationship; to quantify the degree of heterogeneity across studies; and explore the sources of inconsistency (if any). When a meta-analysis is judged inappropriate, we will perform a narrative synthesis, complemented by a structured tabulation of results and appropriate visual displays. EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT Confidence in evidence will be assessed in line with the GRADE approach. FUNDING This project is supported by the World Health Organization. Co-financing was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in its capacity as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health; ARPANSA as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection. REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021236798.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Lagorio
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Blettner
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany.
| | - Dan Baaken
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University of Mainz, Germany.
| | - Maria Feychting
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ken Karipidis
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, Australia.
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Nicola Orsini
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marilia Silva Paulo
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Goedhart G, van Wel L, Langer CE, de Llobet Viladoms P, Wiart J, Hours M, Kromhout H, Benke G, Bouka E, Bruchim R, Choi KH, Eng A, Ha M, Huss A, Kiyohara K, Kojimahara N, Krewski D, Lacour B, 't Mannetje A, Maule M, Migliore E, Mohipp C, Momoli F, Petridou ET, Radon K, Remen T, Sadetzki S, Sim M, Weinmann T, Cardis E, Vrijheid M, Vermeulen R. Recall of mobile phone usage and laterality in young people: The multinational Mobi-Expo study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 165:150-157. [PMID: 29704776 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study recall of mobile phone usage, including laterality and hands-free use, in young people. METHODS Actual mobile phone use was recorded among volunteers aged between 10 and 24 years from 12 countries by the software application XMobiSense and was compared with self-reported mobile phone use at 6 and 18 months after using the application. The application recorded number and duration of voice calls, number of text messages, amount of data transfer, laterality (% of call time the phone was near the right or left side of the head, or neither), and hands-free usage. After data cleaning, 466 participants were available for the main analyses (recorded vs. self-reported phone use after 6 months). RESULTS Participants were on average 18.6 years old (IQR 15.2-21.8 years). The Spearman correlation coefficients between recorded and self-reported (after 6 months) number and duration of voice calls were 0.68 and 0.65, respectively. Number of calls was on average underestimated by the participants (adjusted geometric mean ratio (GMR) self-report/recorded = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.47-0.58), while duration of calls was overestimated (GMR=1.32, 95%, CI = 1.15-1.52). The ratios significantly differed by country, age, maternal educational level, and level of reported phone use, but not by time of the interview (6 vs. 18 months). Individuals who reported low mobile phone use underestimated their use, while individuals who reported the highest level of phone use were more likely to overestimate their use. Individuals who reported using the phone mainly on the right side of the head used it more on the right (71.1%) than the left (28.9%) side. Self-reported left side users, however, used the phone only slightly more on the left (53.3%) than the right (46.7%) side. Recorded percentage hands-free use (headset, speaker mode, Bluetooth) increased with increasing self-reported frequency of hands-free device usage. Frequent (≥50% of call time) reported headset or speaker mode use corresponded with 17.1% and 17.2% of total call time, respectively, that was recorded as hands-free use. DISCUSSION These results indicate that young people can recall phone use moderately well, with recall depending on the amount of phone use and participants' characteristics. The obtained information can be used to calibrate self-reported mobile use to improve estimation of radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geertje Goedhart
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Chelsea E Langer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia de Llobet Viladoms
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joe Wiart
- Chaire C2M, LTCI, Telecom ParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, France
| | - Martine Hours
- Epidemiological Research and Surveillance Unit in Transport, Occupation and Environment (UMRESTTE), Université de Lyon/The French Institute of science and technology for transport, development and networks (IFSTTAR), Lyon, France
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Geza Benke
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Evdoxia Bouka
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Revital Bruchim
- Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Kyung-Hwa Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Amanda Eng
- Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kosuke Kiyohara
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Kojimahara
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel Krewski
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Brigitte Lacour
- French National Registry of Childhood Solid Tumours, CHU, Nancy, Inserm UMRS-1153, CRESS-EPICEA, University of Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, France
| | - Andrea 't Mannetje
- Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Milena Maule
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Enrica Migliore
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Charmaine Mohipp
- French National Registry of Childhood Solid Tumours, CHU, Nancy, Inserm UMRS-1153, CRESS-EPICEA, University of Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, France
| | - Franco Momoli
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Canada; Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Eleni Th Petridou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katja Radon
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Remen
- French National Registry of Childhood Solid Tumours, CHU, Nancy, France
| | - Siegal Sadetzki
- Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Malcolm Sim
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
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7
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Kiyohara K, Wake K, Watanabe S, Arima T, Sato Y, Kojimahara N, Taki M, Cardis E, Yamaguchi N. Long-term recall accuracy for mobile phone calls in young Japanese people: A follow-up validation study using software-modified phones. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2018; 28:166-172. [PMID: 28000687 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2016.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study examined changes in recall accuracy for mobile phone calls over a long period. Japanese students' actual call statuses were monitored for 1 month using software-modified phones (SMPs). Three face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain information regarding self-reported call status during the monitoring period: first interview: immediately after the monitoring period; second interview: after 10-12 months; third interview: after 48-55 months. Using the SMP records as the "gold standard", phone call recall accuracy was assessed for each interview. Data for 94 participants were analyzed. The number of calls made was underestimated considerably and the duration of calls was overestimated slightly in all interviews. Agreement between self-report and SMP records regarding the number of calls, duration of calls and laterality (i.e., use of the dominant ear while making calls) gradually deteriorated with the increase in the interval following the monitoring period (number of calls: first interview: Pearson's r=0.641, third interview: 0.396; duration of calls: first interview: Pearson's r=0.763, third interview: 0.356; laterality: first interview: weighted-κ=0.677, third interview: 0.448). Thus, recall accuracy for mobile phone calls would be consistently imperfect over a long period, and the results of related epidemiological studies should be interpreted carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Kiyohara
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kanako Wake
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Applied Electromagnetic Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soichi Watanabe
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Applied Electromagnetic Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuji Arima
- Division of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei-shi, Tokyo Japan
| | - Yasuto Sato
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Kojimahara
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Taki
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Naohito Yamaguchi
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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Sato Y, Kojimahara N, Taki M, Yamaguchi N. Analysis of ear side of mobile phone use in the general population of Japan. Bioelectromagnetics 2017; 39:53-59. [PMID: 29171064 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the distribution of the ear side of mobile phone use in the general population of Japan and clarify what factors are associated with the ear side of mobile phone use. Children at elementary and junior high schools (n = 2,518) and adults aged ≥20 years (n = 1,529) completed an Internet-based survey. Data were subjected to a logistic regression analysis. In children, due to the tendency to use the dominant hand, we analyzed the factors associated with the use of right ear in right-handed people. Statistically significant differences were observed only in talk time per call (odds ratio (OR) = 2.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-3.99). In adults, due to the tendency to use the left ear, we analyzed factors associated with the use of left ear in right-handed people. Significant differences were observed in those aged 30-39 years (OR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.79-3.68), those aged 40-49 years (OR = 3.08; 95% CI: 2.15-4.43), those aged >50 years (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.20-2.85), and in those with a percentage of total talk time when using mobile phones at work of 51-100% (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.21-2.55). We believe that future epidemiological studies on mobile phone use can be improved by considering the trends in mobile phone use identified in this study. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:53-59, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuto Sato
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Kojimahara
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Taki
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naohito Yamaguchi
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Grell K, Frederiksen K, Schüz J, Cardis E, Armstrong B, Siemiatycki J, Krewski DR, McBride ML, Johansen C, Auvinen A, Hours M, Blettner M, Sadetzki S, Lagorio S, Yamaguchi N, Woodward A, Tynes T, Feychting M, Fleming SJ, Swerdlow AJ, Andersen PK. The Intracranial Distribution of Gliomas in Relation to Exposure From Mobile Phones: Analyses From the INTERPHONE Study. Am J Epidemiol 2016; 184:818-828. [PMID: 27810856 PMCID: PMC5152665 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kww082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
When investigating the association between brain tumors and use of mobile telephones, accurate data on tumor position are essential, due to the highly localized absorption of energy in the human brain from the radio-frequency fields emitted. We used a point process model to investigate this association using information that included tumor localization data from the INTERPHONE Study (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Our main analysis included 792 regular mobile phone users diagnosed with a glioma between 2000 and 2004. Similar to earlier results, we found a statistically significant association between the intracranial distribution of gliomas and the self-reported location of the phone. When we accounted for the preferred side of the head not being exclusively used for all mobile phone calls, the results were similar. The association was independent of the cumulative call time and cumulative number of calls. However, our model used reported side of mobile phone use, which is potentially influenced by recall bias. The point process method provides an alternative to previously used epidemiologic research designs when one is including localization in the investigation of brain tumors and mobile phone use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrine Grell
- Correspondence to Dr. Kathrine Grell, Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark (e-mail: )
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