A recent U.S. study claiming that radio-frequency radiation emitted by cell phones causes cancer in rats does not apply to humans, according to experts.
There is “clear evidence” that male rats exposed to high levels of radio frequency radiation (RFR) like that used in cell phones developed cancerous heart tumours, the study had concluded.
The $30 million study by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) that took 10 years to complete also showed “some evidence” of tumours in the brain and adrenal gland of exposed male rats.
Following the report, some NGOs and scientists propose that the WHO’s Inter Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) must upgrade the present Group 2B (possible human carcinogen) classification of RF radiation to Group1 (human carcinogen).
But specialist agencies have asserted that the finding does not apply to humans.
The International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the panel whose recommendations are followed by majority of nations and agencies such as the WHO, published a note categorically stating the study does not provide any actionable input to change the currently existing safety guidelines for RFR.
It may be mentioned here that India’s safety guidelines for RFR are only 10% of the ICNIRP values.
The U.S. Federal Communication’s Commission, the standard setting body in this field follows the advice of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health. FDA has strongly criticised the conclusions of the USNTP study and restated that the current safety guidelines are adequately safe and there is no need to revise them.
“For female rats, and male and female mice, the evidence was ‘equivocal’ as to whether cancers observed were associated with exposure to radio-frequency radiation,” a statement from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences said.
