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No link between mobile phones and tumours - study
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No link between mobile phones and tumours - study
American Industrial Hygiene Association Asks Are You Safe at Work?
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No link between mobile phones and tumours - study
SYDNEY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A three-year study has found that radio emissions from
mobile phones do not trigger the growth of tumours in mice and therefore probably do
not do so in humans either, Australian researchers said on Friday.
The research on 1,600 mice, by the Adelaide-based Institute of Medical and Veterinary
Science, follows another Australian study on mice five years ago that concluded cellular
phones could foster tumour growth.
The 1997 study fuelled consumer concern about the safety of mobile phones but the
Adelaide scientists said they could not replicate the findings in their mice, half of which
were genetically engineered to be extremely susceptible to tumours.
"That then gives you confidence that if you don't find an effect in these animals you are
probably not going to find an effect in normal animals, humans being a normal animal,"
said Tim Kuchel, a spokesman for the Adelaide research team.
Previous studies have produced often conflicting conclusions.
Swedish research published last week concluded that long-term users of first generation
mobile phones faced an up to 80 percent greater risk of developing brain tumours than
non-users and the World Health Organisation said last year more research was needed.
But a Danish study last year of 400,000 mobile phone users showed no increased
cancer risk.
Kuchel told Reuters the previous Australian study had a few problems including variable
dosages of radio frequencies on mice. It also allowed mice to huddle, an activity that
potentially produces "hot spots" of focused radiation.
He said the new study, the results of which are due to be published this week in the
International Journal of Radiation Research, had all the possible safeguards needed to
ensure the results were reliable.
This included monitoring mice for external virus contamination and strictly measured
dosages of radiation.
Separate batches of 120 mice each were subjected to four levels of radio frequency
(RF) energy ranging from 0.25 watts per kg, the equivalent absorbed by a very
infrequent mobile phone user, to four watts per kg, which reflects extraordinarily heavy
usage.
"(There was) no effect on frequency of tumours, types of tumour or time to tumour,"
Kuchel said.
The research will be replicated again by a European Union-funded study in Italy in order
for it to contribute to a debate in the World Health Organisation about any likely health
hazards that may be associated with mobile phone use.
"An experiment like this, that is potentially going to have a serious influence over
people's attitudes towards whether RF can alter tumour biology, this experiment needs
to be repeated too," Kuchel said.
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American Industrial Hygiene Association Asks Are You Safe at Work?
FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- When Americans go back to work after Labor
Day approximately 50 American workers will be injured on the job every minute of the
day and almost 17 will die, according to the Occupational Health and Safety
Administration. Each worker assumes that they will return home at the end of their shift
as healthy as they were at the beginning. For some, that will not be the case. The good
news is that due to changes in the workplace and the diligence of Occupational and
Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) professionals, that number has dropped by
half since 1970.
Keeping workers safe is a number one priority for industrial hygiene (IH) professionals.
Also referred to as occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS)
professionals, their job is to preserve the health and well being of workers, the
community and the environment.
"Taking care of workers, and the surrounding community, is the main objective of OEHS
professionals," said Gayla McCluskey, CIH, CSP, ROH, QEP, president of the American
Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). "Our job is to protect working mothers, fathers,
sons and daughters; making sure they live and work in a safe environment."
Industrial Hygienists deal with the health and safety challenges facing people
everywhere. Some of the issues they face include: indoor air quality, mold, asbestos,
radiation and hazardous waste materials. They are often one of the first people on the
scene of a potentially dangerous work or environmental accident. IHs play a vital part in
ensuring that federal, state, and local laws and regulations are followed in a work
environment.
"Industrial hygienists work on the frontlines in day-to-day and disaster situations,"
explained McCluskey. "They take air, water and surface samples and test for the
presence of harmful chemicals, particles or bacteria. They evaluate dangers from
machinery in factories, advise on fall protection in construction sites and many other
hazards most people don't think about. Industrial hygiene is a blend of science, good
judgment, creativity and human interaction."
If you have questions about safety in your workplace, find out if your workplace has an
OEHS professional on staff or contact a local OEHS association.
For further information on industrial hygiene, visit http://www.aiha.org . AIHA offers free
online brochures on workplace safety and many consumer topics.
You can find more information about worker safety at http://www.osha.gov .
Founded in 1939, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is the premier
association of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. AIHA's
12,000 members play a crucial role on the front line of worker health and safety every
day. Members represent a cross-section of industry, private business, labor, government
and academia.
***************************************************************
Sandy Perle
Director, Technical
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: (714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100 Extension 2306
Fax: (714) 668-3149
E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/
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