Is the research closer to a conclusion?
The first wave of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme, involving 29 independent studies in the UK, is nearing completion.
We expect results from all these to have been published by 2007.
The German research programme involves 51 independent studies. The results of 16 of these studies have already been published and most of the other studies will conclude by 2007.
During 2005/06, several countries published results of studies carried out under the International Case-Controlled Studies of Cancer in Relation to Mobile Telephone Use (INTERPHONE).
The INTERPHONE case control studies examined data on phone use and cancer incidence in large populations. It is a multi-country epidemiological study of head and neck tumours, independently coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Individual countries that have reported to date have mainly concluded that there was ‘no increased risk’ of tumours for regular phone users with less than ten years’ use. They recommended more research for longer-term use.
We expect a pooled report from all 13 countries involved in INTERPHONE in autumn 2006. Results will be collated by IARC to assess whether radio-frequency exposure from mobile telephones is associated with cancer risk. This assessment is expected to be complete by summer 2007.
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