Incorrect information about wireless phones and the risk for brain tumours in a Swedish newspaper
From Lennart Hardell’s blog (See translation below)
Incorrect information about wireless phones and the risk for brain tumours in a Swedish newspaper
The well known Swedish daily newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet, has published an article that does not give correct information on the risk for brain tumours from use of wireless phones. The newspaper has refused to publish our rebuttal. It is now published in the medical journal, Medicinsk Access (only in Swedish).
Google translation follows:
25 January 2019
Svenska Dagbladet’s science writer Emma Frans gives an incorrect picture of the connection between mobiles and brain tumors.
 Svenska Dagbladet refuses to receive a response comment (a debate response) from six researchers on the scientific state of the art regarding the risk of brain tumor during frequent use of mobiles. The entire post sent to SvD follows here.
Emma Frans discusses in the Science School in SvD everything from vitamin D and office landscape to sperm, with a popular science approach. There are widely different subjects with often complex relationships, which require thorough examination to reach knowledge, which Emma Frans seems to lack. This is made clear in her article on November 17, 2018, entitled “Can our mobiles provide cancer?”. Against the background of the extensive use of mobile phones, even among children and young people, this is an important issue that affects everyone, why it is important that a correct picture is given of the state of knowledge.
Already in 2011, the WHO Cancer Agency IARC reviewed all the science in the field of cancer risk. The 30 invited experts concluded that radio frequency radiation in the frequency range 30 kHz to 300 GHz is “possibly” carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). It includes, for example, mobiles, wireless desk phones (DECT), reading plates, base station antennas, WiFi, smart meters and other wireless communication, but also modern phones (smart phones) and the fifth generation, 5G, for wireless communication, which is now being introduced .
After 2011, the connection between DECT and mobile phones and tumors in the brain (glioma) and on the auditory nerve (acusticus neurinoma) has been strengthened in further studies in humans. But on the contrary, Emma Frans writes that “studies on humans do not seem to support a connection between mobile users and cancer”. This claim is seriously wrong. Without mentioning the survey by name, Emma Frans also claims that the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on experimental animals would have shown “some evidence” for cancer. In fact, the study shows “clear evidence” for cancer according to NTP’s own external expert panel.
 She also misses that another major animal study from the Ramazzini Institute in Italy confirmed the results of the NTP. Both show that experimental animals receive an increased incidence of tumors of the same type that have been seen generally in studies of mobile users, ie. increased risk of brain tumor and tumor of the ear nerve. There are similar results on increased cancer risk in humans and animals. Many researchers consider that radio frequency radiation should now be classified as a human carcinogen, Group 1. It is the highest category that includes, for example, radioactive radiation, tobacco, asbestos and dioxins (TCDD).
Since earlier, animal studies have shown that radio frequency radiation can also increase cancer growth through so-called tumor promotion. Both DNA damage and the formation of harmful reactive oxygen metabolites (ROS), also called oxidative stress, have been demonstrated in cellular studies, which in turn can increase the risk of cancer but also have other adverse health effects. In addition to the cancer risk, other health risks are described, e.g. various neurological symptoms.
Emma Frans undoubtedly takes on a great responsibility when she wants to inform about different scientific relationships. But then she must go to the sources and not convey conclusions based on a quick and superficial review that ends in completely erroneous conclusions regarding the risk of serious cancer diseases.
Without proper information, neither the politician nor the Swedish people can make well-founded decisions regarding the risks of radiation from wireless technology including mobile phones.
Mikko Ahonen, fil. dr. forskare, Sundsvall
Igor Belyaev, PhD, DrSc, Docent, Institutionen för radiobiologi, Cancer Research Institute, Bratislava, Slovakien
Michael Carlberg, MSc, statistiker, Örebro
Lennart Hardell, leg läkare, docent, specialist i onkologi, Örebro
Lena Hedendahl, leg läkare, specialist i allmänmedicin, Luleå
Rainer Nyberg, professor emeritus, Vasa, Finland
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