The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), dependent on the World Health Organization (WHO) has classifiedelectromagnetic radio frequency fields emitted by mobile phones as “possibly carcinogenic”for humans. These radiations are associated with the use of a mobile phone and could increase the risk of suffering from glioma, a type of brain tumor. “The risk could exist and, therefore, we must maintainclose monitoring to see if there is a link between mobile phones and cancer risk“explains Jonathan Samet, chair of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) task force.
The announcement of the agency, dependent on the World Health Organization (WHO), comes after the meeting of 31 scientists from 14 countries in Lyon (France), where they have evaluated the carcinogenic potential of these radio frequencies. The final results will be published in a monograph and, on July 1, in the journalThe Lancet Oncology. Although the working group does not quantify this risk, it refers to a 2004 study that showed a 40% increase in suffering from gliomas in people who used mobile phones for an average of 30 minutes a day for 10 years.
“It is important that further long-term research is conducted on the continued use of mobile phones because of the potential potential public health consequences of these findings,” said Christopher Wild, Director of the IARC. The expert recommends practical measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting.
The IARC monograph has studied 900 environmental agents and of these, 400 have been considered carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. Radiation from mobile phones is included in thecategory 2b: there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient in animals.
From the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality of Spain they ask for the moment “caution” with this information, according to the SINC agency.
