Risk Factors for Brain Tumors in AdultsNational Cancer Institute In 1994, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) began a comprehensive study on the causes of brain tumors. The impetus for the study grew out of public concern about cellular telephone use and adult brain tumors which led Congress in 1993 to urge NCI to conduct the study. Because the causes of brain tumors are largely unknown, the study is evaluating a wide range of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors, in addition to cellular phone use. These include:  - Occupational exposures, such as solvents, pesticides, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from electrical machinery; - Family history of cancer; - Dietary factors, including processed meats, artificial sweeteners, and vitamin and mineral supplements; - Medical history, such as head trauma and radiation exposures; - Reproductive history and hormone use; and - Use of hair dyes. The study includes approximately 800 brain tumor cases and 800 controls (people without brain tumors) from three medical institutions: St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix; Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; and Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh. The controls were admitted to the same hospitals as the cases for treatment of a variety of non-cancerous conditions. Data collection began in 1994 and was completed in 1998.
The microwave radiation exposures from cellular phones described in this study occurred between the mid-l980s, when cellular phone use began, through approximately 1998, when the NCI study ended. One of the limitations of the NCI study is that the explosion in cellular phone use occurred after the beginning of the study, and relatively few study participants had used a cellular phone for a long time. In addition, study participants used primarily analogue phones while digital phones, which operate at a different frequency and power, are more commonly used today. A Swedish cell phone study by Hardell et al (see below) involving 233 cases and 466 controls was published this year and found no overall increased risk for brain tumors associated with exposure to cellular phones. Another study, sponsored by the American Health Foundation involving 469 cases and an equal number of controls, has been submitted for publication. Both cover approximately the same time period as the NCI study. A multi-center international cell phone study sponsored by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, began data collection early this year and is expected to be completed in 2004. Additional cell phone studies have addressed other possible health effects, such as motor vehicle accidents and interference with cardiac pacemakers. Publication of the other portions of the NCI brain tumor study will occur over the next several years. Publications related to cellular phones and brain tumors: Inskip PD, Hatch EE, Stewart PA, et al. Study design for a case-control investigation of cellular telephones and other risk factors for brain tumours in adults. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 1999;86:45. Hardell L, Nasman A, Pahlson A, et al. Use of cellular telephones and the risk for brain tumours: A case-control study. Int J Oncol 1999;15:113-116. Rothman KJ, Chou CK, Morgan R, et al. Assessment of cellular telephone and other radio frequency exposures for epidemiologic research. Epidemiology 1996;7:291. Hietanen M, Kovala T, Hamalainen AM. Human brain activity during exposure to radio frequency fields emitted by cellular phones. Scand J Work Environ Health 2000;26:87. Publications related to cell phones and other health risks: Redelmeier DA, Tibshirani RJ. Association between cellular telephone calls and motor vehicle collisions. N Engl J Med 1997;336:453-8. Dreyer NA, Loughlin JE, Rothman KJ. Cause-specific mortality in cellular telephone users. JAMA 1999;282:1814-6.
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