When will there be the results of the largest international study to assess the health risks faced people using mobile phones? Dubbed "Interphone", the study was launched in 2000 and completed six years later. It was conducted in thirteen countries with 14 000 people. After a long series of postponements and unexplained delays, it seemed certain that the results of this work would be submitted for publication during the month of September. That will not happen. In its edition dated September 27, the weekly The Economist understands that those responsible intercom probably does not submit the results of their work to a publisher before the end of 2008. "I do not know where the information comes from The Economist, said Elisabeth Cardis (Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona), coordinator of the study. A version that we hope consensus of the article was being prepared and we 'look soon. It may be that the article be submitted for publication soon. Nothing suggests to me now that the bid can not be done this year. " For Professor Cardis, this new delay is not the result of disagreements authors. "There is no hypothetical new challenges, she says. There are only schedules and staff responsible for the holidays which meant that the new version of the article was only on the point of over. "
CONCERNS IN THE UNITED STATES
This new setback occurs while U.S. scientists coming to Congress, to take on the subject of worrying about. "We must not repeat what we have known about smoking and lung cancer, where our nation has pinaillé on every detail of information before informing the public," said, Thursday 25 September, David Carpenter, public health specialist and professor of environmental health at the University of Albany (New York). According to him, caution should prevail. "In light of the 70 years since we took to remove lead paint and 50 years it took to establish a convincing link between smoking and lung cancer, I would do that well to learn the lessons of the past to better interpret the signs of potential risks, for its part, argues Dr. Ronald Herberman (University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), responsible for one of the ten largest U.S. research against cancer . It is the world's 3 billion regular users of cell phones. We need a message of caution. " Dr. Herberman argued that the majority of studies have lapsed, the methodology does not correspond to the intensive use which is now made this communication tool. He cited two studies, one Swedish and one Israeli, finding an increased risk of tumor of the auditory nerve or the salivary gland among mobile phone users. "It is true that studies suffer a setback and a small number of large users of long-term, acknowledges Professor Cardis. The studies with more long-term users seem to actually indicate an increase possible risk of glioma and acoustic neurinoma the side where the phone was usually used. The question remains whether this is or not reflect a real association. In the meantime, I think that precautions needed, particularly among children. "
