The head of the Australian arm of the Interphone project on mobile phone safety has called into question claims by a prominent neurosurgeon that there has been an “exponential rise” in the incidence of brain cancer, particularly among teenagers.

University of Sydney cancer epidemiologist Professor Bruce Armstrong “shot down” this "smoking gun" assertion last weekend in The Australian newspaper.

The Australian newspaper noted that : “…. Weekend Health received a press release last week about ‘smoking gun’ links between mobile phone use and a ‘sharp increase in the incidence of brain tumours in teenagers’.

“The press release also highlighted comments made by prominent Sydney-based neurosurgeon Charlie Teo when he appeared recently on commercial television. ‘If the question is, do I believe that mobile phones cause brain cancer, yes I do,’ Teo said emphatically.

"I know of absolutely no evidence that there's an increase in brain tumours in teenagers," Armstrong says. "I've looked at both teens and adults. There is no evidence in Australia."

“And Teo's evidence? ‘Charlie Teo is convinced there's a strong association based, I assume, on his personal observation that he had patients who are heavy mobile phone users. 'Gee, there must be cause and effect.'

"You cannot draw a conclusion from that kind of evidence."

Dr Teo recently told Channel 9’s Today that there had been a 27% increase in childhood brain cancer.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer Chris Althaus said the mobile telecommunications industry relied on independent expert advice on health and safety issues related to mobile phone use.

“To have a proper informed debate on this issue it is important to stick to the facts and present the evidence,” he said.

“Doctors, especially brain surgeons, command great respect from the public as a result of their years of study relating to cure and prevention of illness. The medical model of illness prevention inherently supports precaution and moderation.

“Brain surgeons, Doctors Charlie Teo and Vini Khurana, have expressed strong personal opinions in the media and publicly about mobile phones and brain cancer and advocate precaution based on their concerns. This advice is at odds with the World Health Organisation’s current advice, which says:

“Present scientific evidence does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the use of mobile phones.”

However, the WHO also says;

“If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their own or their children's RF exposure by limiting the length of calls or by using "hands-free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body”. (WHO Fact Sheet No. 193).

“Brain cancer is a very rare disease, so small that random changes in numbers of cases can cause large changes in incidence rates. For this reason, multi-national studies have been conducted to study large numbers of brain cancer cases to try to identify possible risk factors.

“The results of a 13-nation study looking at risks of head and neck cancers and mobile phone use, called the INTERPHONE project, are expected to be published soon.”

Furthermore, any statements suggesting significant increases in brain cancer are at odds with the overall views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which says:

“After 1983 and more recently during the period of increasing prevalence of mobile phone users, the incidence has remained relatively stable for both men and women.” (IARC World Cancer Report 2008 p.461)