The International Agency for Research on Cancer has published the World Cancer Report 2008 The report documents the frequency of cancer in different countries, trends in cancer incidence and mortality and describes known causes.

The GSM Association comments on the report in its latest edition of Environment Insider. In a discussion of radiofrequency radiation emitted by mobile telephones on pages 170 -173, the report states a number of studies have been completed:

‘…There is some evidence that long-term and heavy use of mobile/cellular phones may be associated with moderate increased risks of gliomas, parotid gland tumours, and acoustic neuromas; however, evidence is conflicting and a role of bias in these studies cannot be ruled out.'

In respect of the cancer risk from RF exposures:

'...The evidence for the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency fields is even less clear. A few epidemiological studies in occupational settings have indicated a possible increase in the risk of leukaemia or brain tumours, while other studies indicated decreases. These studies suffer from a number of limitations. The experimental evidence is also limited, but suggests that radiofrequency fields cannot cause DNA mutations. The lack of reproducibility of findings limits the conclusions that can be drawn.'

IARC is the coordinating agency for INTERPHONE and will conduct the health risk review for cancer, currently expected in 2010.