LG GS170 User Manual
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of cancer in laboratory animals. However,
many of the studies that showed increased
tumor development used animals that had
been genetically engineered or treated with
cancer-causing chemicals so as to be pre-
disposed to develop cancer in the absence
of RF exposure. Other studies exposed
the animals to RF for up to 22 hours per
day. These conditions are not similar to the
conditions under which people use wireless
phones, so we do not know with certainty what
the results of such studies mean for human
health. Three large epidemiology studies
have been published since December 2000.
Between them, the studies investigated any
possible association between the use of wire-
less phones and primary brain cancer, glioma,
meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of
the brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or other
cancers. None of the studies demonstrated
the existence of any harmful health effects
from wireless phone RF exposures. However,
none of the studies can answer questions
about long-term exposures, since the average
period of phone use in these studies was
around three years.
5. What research is needed to decide
whether RF exposure from wireless
phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and
epidemiological studies of people actually
using wireless phones would provide some
of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal
exposure studies could be completed in a few
years. However, very large numbers of animals
would be needed to provide reliable proof of
a cancer promoting effect if one exists. Epide-
miological studies can provide data that is
directly applicable to human populations, but
ten or more years follow-up may be needed
to provide answers about some health effects,
such as cancer. This is because the interval
between the time of exposure to a cancer-
causing agent and the time tumors develop
— if they do — may be many, many years. The
interpretation of epidemiological studies is
hampered by diffi culties in measuring actual
RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless
phones. Many factors affect this measure-
ment, such as the angle at which the phone is
held, or which model of phone is used.
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