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There have been many reports in the past supposedly linking cell phone usage with brain cancer. One of the latest rounds of press chasing this topic is due to a “report” from a doctor, which in reality has no original research, but is a collection of previously reported studies. It is interesting to note that many of the cited studies point to no demonstrated correlation between brain cancer and cell phone usage. Many of the studies just hypothesize potential risk mechanisms and in general, suggest ways cell phone radiation could cause health problems, but have no concrete statistics to support the hypothesis.

But, rather than drudge through all the data on Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) and microwave heating of the brain by cell phones, the attention grabbing headline that states “It is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking…” is what individuals may focus on. Of course, this headline is purely for effect. The focus of the press is put on the risk of brain cancer. That’s most likely because cancer is a disease that frightens many people, often for good reason, and few cancers sound more invasive and deadly than brain cancer. We are aware of how serious brain cancer is. But how is cell phone usage affecting the occurrence of brain cancer?

The previously mentioned doctor suggests: “The incubation time or latency (i.e., the time from commencement of regular mobile phone usage to the diagnosis of a malignant solid brain tumor in a susceptible individual) may be in the order of 10-20 years. In the years 2008-2012, we will have reached the appropriate length of follow-up time to begin to definitively observe the impact of this global technology on brain tumor incidence rates.” And the worst case scenario (according to the restated older studies) is that after the “latency” period is over, we may see a 39% increase in brain cancers for those who have been using cell phones “heavily” for 10-20 years. If we make this generous assumption that includes 100% of the population of the US, we could expect, at most, 3900 new cases each year. That’s an increase in the total cancer rate of 0.27%.

To put the entire situation in perspective, compare those hypothetical 3900 new cases to the 213,000 new cases of lung cancer in 2007, where there is a well documented link between smoking and lung cancer. That’s not to mention the impact smoking has on other cancer rates like pancreatic cancer, along with heart disease, incidence of stroke and emphysema. How do you come up with the conclusion that cell phone usage “has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking…?” That is a very long leap from the reality of the situation.

Realistically though, anyone who has seen other drivers weave through traffic while texting or talking on the phone knows that using cell phones while driving poses a much greater danger to everyone; much more hazardous than the far-fetched risk of brain cancer caused by cell phones.