The WHO’s long-awaited report on cell phones and cancer is (almost) out. Anything new here? Um, no, I don’t think so. The controversy, however, is now greater than ever.
Do cellular phones and related handsets and devices cause cancer in humans? I’ve spent considerable time on this possibility over the years, in these pages and others, and there’s no question more visible or important in wireless; human health and safety (and perhaps convincing people to avoid conversations on their phones when others might be disturbed) remain the final frontier of wireless. And, indeed, if a link between cellular use and cancer (particularly brain tumors) were indeed established, well, such would change everything. Handsets might wind up in the same pile as cigarettes, DDT, and other previously-acceptable items that today should if not must be avoided.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is itself part of the United Nations, has not yet published its findings, the results of meetings among scientists just concluded. But the press release is indeed ominous: handsets are to be classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”, this despite any firm evidence to support such a conclusion. Indeed, the leader of the working group noted that “there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk” (emphasis added). So, is this science, political posturing (although no one would ever accuse, of course, the United Nations of such), speculation, or more of the same?
Well, I must conclude that all this is indeed more of the same. And while I’m not going to dismiss this finding out of hand, it’s back to the old “more research is required” workbench for anyone working in the field. Smoking gun? No way. But there’s not much space between the position I’ve advocated for many years – be prudent, not paranoid – and what’s recommended here. If you don’t have to yak on a handset all day, don’t.
My previous position regardless holds: If a link is absolutely established between causal cellphone use and cancer of any form, I’ll find another line of work. And I expect to be working in wireless for some time to come. More on this story, as they say, as it develops.
