CTIA Against the Media

CTIA and the media both are industry watchdogs, but they are blasting one another over the latest cancer scare.

In 1993, CTIA committed $25 million over five years to support research on the effects of RF exposure. Wireless Technology Research (WTR), an independent research organization, administered the funds to universities, scientists and independent research laboratories, which carried out various research projects. Scientists and wireless industry representatives recently convened at WTR's Second State of the Science Colloquium to hear the program's results.

But before results were even announced, headlines such as "Cancer Scare for Mobile Phone Users" appeared. In reality, WTR found no conclusive results. Other studies, including one by Dr. Lennart Hardell on the use of mobile phones among persons with brain tumors, have been inconclusive as well.

Jo-Anne Basile, CTIA vice president for external and industry relations, said the press reported that Hardell's study found a statistically significant increase in cancer risk, even though Hardell himself admits he found no conclusive evidence.

"(It is) just an indication in our study that there might be a problem. It needs to be confirmed in larger studies and also evaluated in context with results in other studies," Hardell said.

Basile said a huge difference exists between the media's interpretation of these reports and their actual results.

"It is important for this information not to be debated through venues like various press activities as opposed to waiting for the work to be peer reviewed and published," she said. "These are not insignificant topics, and it is unfair to throw bits and pieces that can be taken out of context."

Some journalists claim that WTR told them there was a definite link between wireless phones and cancer in order to justify more money for ongoing research. According to Microwave News, Dr. George Carlo, WTR chairman, told it WTR found links between cellular phone use and brain cancer, and he wanted it to do a major story.

"We nearly did -- until we talked with the study's principal investigator," the publication reported. "Just as WTR's bank account starts to run dry, Carlo has started to say there might be something to cell-phone worries after all. Pardon our cynicism, but we've wondered if the two might be connected."

Nancy Akers, WTR public affairs associate, said Microwave News was trying to get attention with its article. Two weeks before its colloquium, leaks about the program's results occurred, so WTR had to come up with something to say, she said.

"It had nothing to do with trying to get more money or trying to extend the research," she said.

But writers at Microwave News are not the only skeptics when it comes to Carlo. A Web site produced by journalist Stewart Fist (www.electric-words.com/radiation/carlo.html) is not kind to WTR, either. One page is titled "Dr. George L. Carlo and the fiasco called Wireless Technology Research."

"How much did the WTR project cost? About one-fortieth of a cent for every dollar spent on cell phones in the USA," Fist said. What did it achieve? Among other things "... a comfortable living, with travel to overseas conventions, for a lot of people including a lot of scientists."

Despite such attacks, CTIA is pleased with WTR's research.

"I have no question about the quality of the scientific studies that were conducted by the individual scientists," CTIA's Basile said.

CTIA plans to fund ongoing research, but does not have a specific amount in mind yet.

Microwave News called for more research, as well.

"But that research should be run by a government health agency -- not by WTR," it said.

With everyone calling for ongoing research, will the industry and the public ever have an answer about wireless and cancer?

"The scientific mind, which is constantly asking questions, will always call for new studies," Basile said. "We should applaud that approach to science. That is what the scientific process is about."

Study: Does exposure to cellular phones increase risk for brain tumors?

By: Dr. Lennart Hardell

Conclusion: Did not find overall increased risk. Non-significantly increased risk found for tumor in temporal or occipital lobe.

Study: Genotoxicity of Radiofrequency Fields Generated From Analog, TDMA, CDMA and PCS Technology

By: Wireless Technology Research

Conclusion: No significant induction of mutagenicity or clastogenicity was observed with any of the technologies.

Study: Genotoxicity of Radiofrequency Fields Generated From Analog, TDMA, CDMA and PCS in Human Blood Cells

By: Wireless Technology Research

Conclusion: None of the technologies tested induced a significant increase in DNA damage or in micronucleated binucleate cells.

Study: Wireless Telecommunications and Health

By: Dr. Brian Habbick

Conclusion: No evidence that portable mobile phones, when used according to safety guidelines, cause cancer or other adverse health effects.

Study: Microwaves generated by mobile phones may damage ability of white blood cells to fight off infection and disease.

By: Biologist Roger Coghill

Conclusion: The competence of white blood cells is depleted after seven or eight hours of exposure to a wireless phone on standby. Study not yet published or reviewed.