** So Far Un-Reported **

This is yet another Interphone study showing a statistically significant correlation between where a brain tumour appears and the side of the head where the phone is held.

The Interphone studies are heavily funded by the mobile phone industry.

Seemingly, where a press release for an intermediary study from the Interphone series can be worded to show that there is not much effect from using mobile phones, (which are usually studies concentrating on short term use only and ignoring longer term use), the results of each of these studies are widely reported in the press.

However, where, like this study, the results show clear harm to humans from mobile phone use and cannot be shown to be anything other, then there is no media fanfare and the results go largely unreported.

Mast Sanity believes this is not a coincidence and that the media must be more alert to the studies that are released without fanfare, such as this latest Israeli study^[1].

The objective of the Israel-wide study was to assess the association between mobile phone use and the development of Parotid Gland Tumours (PGTs)^[2]. The study methods used were based on the international INTERPHONE study^[4] that aims to evaluate possible adverse effects of mobile phone use.

The study^[1] states that "A positive dose-response trend was found for these measurements. Based on the largest number of benign PGT patients reported to date, our results suggest an association between cellular phone use and PGTs."

Recently, independent Swedish researchers looked at a pooled analysis of 11 Interphone studies^[3]. They showed at least a doubling of brain tumour risk for over 10 years use on the side of the head where the phone is held.

Mast Sanity Trustee Yasmin Skelt says "The evidence is mounting up hugely. Yesterday's Interphone research release states that there is also a risk of Parotid Gland Tumors This supports other studies that show risk of other cancers from using mobile phones. However it is not not just cancers we are concerned about - there is a huge range of illnesses and conditions that are linked to mobile phone technology."

Mast Sanity notes that for all the Interphone studies, the definition of a 'regular user' (what it bases its studies on) is someone who makes or receives one call a week for 6 months minimum. This would not define a 'regular user' for most people. However, even with this definition, the fact that the Interphone studies are showing hugely increased tumour incidences after 10 years, is extremely worrying.

Mast Sanity calls upon the government to issue a Department of Health warning to the public that using mobile phones can cause serious health problems, even cancers and to actively support this message.

Notes and References:

[1] http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/kwm325v1

Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Benign and Malignant Parotid Gland Tumors Nationwide Case-Control Study Published 6th Dec 2007

Siegal Sadetzki1,2, Angela Chetrit1, Avital Jarus-Hakak1, Elisabeth Cardis3, Yonit Deutch1, Shay Duvdevani4, Ahuva Zultan1, Ilya Novikov5, Laurence Freedman5 and Michael Wolf2,4

"The objective of this nationwide study was to assess the association between cellular phone use and development of parotid gland tumors (PGTs). The methods were based on the international INTERPHONE study that aimed to evaluate possible adverse effects of cellular phone use.

For ipsilateral use, the odds ratios in the highest category of cumulative number of calls and call time without use of hands-free devices were 1.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.11, 2.24) and 1.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.05, 2.13), respectively. The risk for contralateral use was not

significantly different from 1. A positive dose-response trend was found for these measurements. Based on the largest number of benign PGT patients reported to date, our results suggest an association between cellular phone use and PGTs."

[2] Paratid Gland Tumor (sub-type of) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleomorphic_adenoma

[3] Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: increased risk associated with use for >=10 years by

Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg, Fredrik Söderqvist, Kjell Hansson Mild, L. Lloyd Morgan - http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/64/9/626

[4] The Interphone Study - http://www.iarc.fr/ENG/Units/RCAd.html