Inferring the 1985-2014 impact of mobile phone use on selected brain cancer subtypes

Abstract

Overview

This study delves into the 1985-2014 incidence of selected brain cancer subtypes in England, exploring whether the sharp rise in mobile phone usage correlates with or potentially fuels increases in specific types of brain cancers.

Methods

• Analysis of annual cancer incidence rates: malignant glioma, glioblastoma multiforme, and malignant neoplasms of the temporal and parietal lobes.
• Utilization of Bayesian structural time series models and 'synthetic controls' to differentiate actual cancer trends from expected trends without mobile phone influence.

Findings

There were no significant increases in the incidence rates of malignant glioma, glioblastoma multiforme, and parietal lobe neoplasms not predicted by the models. However:

• An alarming rise in malignant neoplasms of the temporal lobe was recorded, growing faster than modeled anticipations, an increase attributed partly to mobile phone use.
• The data suggests an additional 188 cases (95% CI 48-324) annually, postulating a 35% increase attributable to mobile phone use after a 10-year latency period.

Conclusion

The correlation between increased incidence of temporal lobe neoplasms and mobile phone usage underscores the potential health hazards of prolonged electromagnetic field exposure from wireless devices. This study signals the urgent need for more detailed investigations into the role of mobile phone use in brain cancer development, especially considering temporal associations that align with phone usage habits.