Use of cellular and cordless telephones and risk of testicular cancer

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Ohlson CG, Westberg H, Eriksson M, Hansson Mild K

Int J Androl. Dec 20; 2006

[Epub ahead of print]

A case-control study on testicular cancer included use of cellular and cordless telephones. The results were based on answers from 542 (92%) cases with seminoma, 346 (89%) with non-seminoma, and 870 (89%) controls.

Regarding seminoma the use of analog cellular phones gave odds ratio (OR) = 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.9-1.6, digital phones OR = 1.3, CI = 0.9-1.8, and cordless phones OR = 1.1, CI = 0.8-1.5. The corresponding results for non-seminoma were OR = 0.7, CI = 0.5-1.1, OR = 0.9, CI = 0.6-1.4, and OR = 1.0, CI = 0.7-1.4, respectively.

There was no dose-response effect and OR did not increase with latency time. No association was found with place of keeping the mobile phone during standby, such as trousers pocket. Cryptorchidism was associated both with seminoma (OR = 4.2, CI = 2.7-6.5) and non-seminoma (OR = 3.3, CI = 2.0-5.6), but no interaction was found with the use of cellular or cordless telephones.