What Risks Are Posed By Kids' Cell Phone Use?

With recent news reports that cell phone use can possibly cause brain tumors, one must wonder what the effects could be on the large population of children and teenagers who use such devices.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization, has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (REFs) related to wireless phone use as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

To determine the risk of REFs on human health, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries analyzed hundreds of studies.

They found that REFs are best categorized under the IARC's 2B classification, which is used for "agents for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals."

"It may also be used when there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans but there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals," according to the IARC's website.

There are 266 other agents in the 2B category, including the synthetic pesticide DDT and chloroform, which is used to make Teflon cookware.

There are four classifications, with 1 indicating agents that are definitely carcinogenic to humans and 4 indicating no carcinogenic effect on humans.

"The evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a conclusion and the 2B classification. The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk," said Dr. Jonathan Samet from the University of Southern California and Chairman of the Working Group.

The IARC estimates that there are five billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. In 2007, there were 255 million subscriptions in the U.S.

"Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings, it is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones,' said IARC Director Christopher Wild. "Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting. " 

But the CTIA, a wireless communications industry group, undermined the IARC's findings and in a statement did not urge caution when using cell phones.

"The IARC conducts numerous reviews and in the past has given the same score to, for example, pickled vegetables and coffee," said John Walls, Vice-President of Public Affairs for the CTIA. "This IARC classification does not mean cell phones cause cancer. Under IARC rules, limited evidence from statistical studies can be found even though bias and other data flaws may be the basis for the results."

The National Cancer Institute notes that cell phone use by children and adolescents is increasing, thus making them "likely to accumulate many years of exposure during their lives. In addition, children may be at greater risk because their nervous systems are still developing at the time of exposure."

A 2007 study led by Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden supports the National Cancer Institute's statement.

The study, published in the international peer-reviewed journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, indicates that long-term exposure to REFs could contribute to the growth of tumors, even though the study didn't assess children.

Researchers found that the use of mobile phones for more than 10 years "gave a consistent pattern of increased risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma." Acoustic neuroma is a type of cancer in the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. Glioma is a common tumor in the brain or spine.

According to a , "children of all ages are considerably more vulnerable than adults to increased cancer risk and other adverse effects from virtually all harmful environmental exposures." The panel recommended in the report that precautions should be taken against excessive use of cell phones by children until questions such as "do children or adolescents using cell phones face an increased cancer risk?" are answered.

An international study called Mobi-Kids that involves 13 countries, not including the U.S., will soon begin a five-year study on the effects of cell phone use on 2,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who have been diagnosed with brain tumors.

The first of its kind study will also look at a similar number of young people who use cell phones but do not have a brain tumor. Mobi-Kids began inviting participants into the study in 2010, and is set to look at family history of brain cancer, environmental factors like chemical exposure, nutrition during pregnancy, and exposure to REFs during cell phone use.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission recommend that people concerned about the potential health risks from cell phones use hands-free devices, opt for land lines when available and use cell phones for short periods of time.