Mobile industry wary of cancer report
- 01 June, 2011 12:06
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A new report on the possible dangers of mobile phone use does not outline the risk or likelihood of actually developing brain cancer, a telecom industry group says.
The report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says radio waves emitted by mobile phones are "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
It has linked mobile phone use with a possible increased risk of glioma, a malignant type of brain tumour.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has welcomed the findings but says the report needs greater "clarity".
"After reviewing the available scientific evidence, IARC has assessed it is possible that RF (radio frequency) electromagnetic fields could be a cancer hazard," AMTA's executive officer, Chris Althaus, said in a statement on Wednesday.
"However, IARC did not quantify the risk or likelihood of cancer.
"The IARC classification suggests that a hazard is possible but not likely."
The "possibly carcinogenic" classification puts mobile phone use in the same cancer risk category as exposure to pickled vegetables, coffee and diesel fuel, the IARC says.
Althaus said the industry placed the highest priority on safety and supported independent research, but he stressed that most devices already operated within global guidelines.
"It should be remembered that wireless communications equipment is designed to operate within international and national exposure limits, which already have substantial safety margins built into them," he said.
IARC had signalled the need for ongoing research and ATMA looked forward to any uncertainty being clarified.
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