Laboratory animals exposed to cell phone radiation developed heart and brain tumors similar to the types seen in some studies of human cell phone users, according to an Italian study. The findings reinforce the need for people, especially children, to exercise caution when using cell phones and other radiation-emitting devices, the Environmental Working Group said.
The study by the Ramazzini Institute, published in the journal Environmental Research, supports the findings of the federal National Toxicology Program. Last month, the NTP reported that male rats exposed to radio-frequency radiation at levels including those emitted by cell phones had a greater chance of developing brain cancer and tumors in the heart and other organs.
The Ramazzini Institute’s research found that male rats exposed to radiation emitted by cellphones using GSM networks had a greater chance of developing heart tumors and increased reproduction of Schwann cells, which support the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cell tumors were also observed in human studies of tumors in cell phone users and in the NTP studies of lab animals.
“The Italian study reinforces the need for a precautionary approach when it comes to radiation from phones and other devices, especially for young kids,” said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., senior science advisor at the EWG. “Children’s bodies develop through the teenage years and may be more affected by cell phone use. As new telecom networks are built around the country, in-depth assessment of children’s health risks from cell phone radiation is essential.”
In 2011, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said the kind of radiation emitted by cellphones is a “possible carcinogen” based on human studies that found increased brain and spinal cord tumors and noncancerous tumors of inner ear nerves in long-term cellphone users.
The data on health effects of cellphone radiation in laboratory animals collected by the NTP and the Ramazzini Institute studies support the earlier evidence from human studies that cellphone radiation increases the risk of cancer.
The EWG has previously raising concerns about connections between cell phone use and cancer. It’s 2009 “Science Review on Cancer Risks and Children’s Health” summarized studies showing a variety of health problems linked to long-term cell phone use. They included increased risk of brain tumors; lower sperm counts, movement, and vitality in men; neurological effects; and changes in brain metabolism.
While the public debate on cellphone radiation risks has focused on cancer, which progresses slowly, research suggests that shorter exposures may cause harm. In a study published last year, Kaiser Permanente researchers reported that pregnant women exposed to radio-frequency radiation from sources such as wireless devices and cell towers had nearly a three times greater frequency of miscarriage.
In December 2017, California issued guidelines advising cell phone users to keep phones away from their bodies. Its state Department of Public Health also recommended that parents consider reducing the amount of time their children use cell phones and encourage kids to turn the devices off at night.
For more information, see EWG’s Guide to Safer Cellphone Use, Six Questions About Cellphone Radiation and Your Health, and EWG’s Comments to the National Toxicology Program.
