Institut Armand-Frappier and University of Montreal are collaborating to examine factors that may increase the risk of developing tumours of the brain, head, and neck. This three-year study will look at whether the use of cellular phones or other radiofrequency exposures increases the risk of brain tumours and other specific tumours of the head and neck. The Vancouver portion of the study is now being launched.
This study is part of a larger research initiative being carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization. Information on cell phone use and other radiofrequency exposures in the Canadian study will be pooled with study results from twelve other countries, as part of a world-wide effort to examine potential cancer risks from these exposures.
"Although there is not a lot of scientific evidence linking cancer and cell phone use, we want to do the study because of public concern and the high rate of use of phones world-wide," says Mary McBride, BC Cancer Agency epidemiologist and co-principal investigator of the Canadian study.
The Canadian collaboration has several benefits. Firstly, working together means there will be a larger study group. Also, each Canadian centre brings specific expertise to the study: Vancouver will be contributing its experience in case-control studies of electromagnetic field exposures, Montreal will add its expertise in occupational assessment of cancer risk, and Ottawa will be carrying out specific substudies, including genetics and exposure validation studies.
Researchers will be attempting to recruit all individuals aged 30 to 59 years old, who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, malignant tumours of the parotid gland, and acoustic neurinomas, and who live in the Greater Ottawa, Greater Montreal, and Southern BC areas. A comparison group of randomly chosen people living in the same areas will also be included in the study.
Study subjects will be interviewed about their cell phone use, and other radiofrequency and job-related exposures. The risk of brain tumours – according to cell phone use and occupational exposure – will be assessed for the total Canadian study group. The study will also consider other risk factors, such as genetic and hereditary risks.
The study is being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), with support from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, through the CIHR University-Industry Partnerships Programme. Over the next three years, it is expected that 780 participants from B.C. will be enrolled in this study. Results from this study are expected in about five years.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Adams
Public Relations Officer
BC Cancer Agency
(604) 877-6272
nadams@bccancer.bc.ca