Robert Hoover Testifies on Cell Phone Use

Robert Hoover

In September, the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled “Cell phone use and tumors: What the science says.” The hearing was called in response to concerns that exposure to cell phones might cause brain tumors. The subcommittee invited Robert N. Hoover, M.D., Sc.D., Director of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, to join a panel of witnesses that included Julius Knapp, Director of the Office of Engineering and Technology at the Federal Communications Commission, Dr. David O. Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Ellen Marks, an advocate from California.

The panel of witnesses discussed current research on cell phone use and tumor incidence. Most concern focused on the potential health effects of radiofrequency waves emitted by cell phones, especially for childhood exposures.

Dr. Hoover summarized findings from large-scale epidemiological investigations, indicating that so far, no conclusive evidence has linked cell phone use to the development of brain tumors. He further noted that there has been “no meaningful increase in the incidence of brain or other nervous system cancers from 1987 through 2005, a time period when cell phone use increased 10-fold.”

Dr. Hoover also discussed limitations to current research and the need for future investigations to examine the effects of long-term use (more than 10 years), new cell phone technology, and exposure in children. His concluding statements underscored the importance of providing the public with information on what is and is not known in science. He stressed that individuals may make behavioral decisions based on their own personal views of when to involve a “cautionary principle.” However, a higher standard is called for in official public health recommendations, which must be based on an objective assessment of the weight of the scientific evidence.

The testimony from the panel of witnesses will be used to help determine whether legislation is necessary.

—Cherie M. Vitartas, M.P.H.