Description

This study is being carried out in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization. The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the use of cellular phones increases the risk of cancer among adults aged 30-59. In particular, the study will examine the association between cell phone use and the following types of cancer: brain tumours, malignant tumours of the parotid gland, and acoustic neurinomas. The Canadian study will include participants residing in selected areas of Southern BC, the Ottawa region, and the Montreal region. The Vancouver component of the Canadian study will recruit participants from Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Southern Vancouver Island.

Risk assessment will be evaluated with consideration given to other potential risk factors for these tumours. In particular, other exposures to radiofrequency fields will be assessed, with occupational exposures being a key component. Lastly, genetic and familial risk factors for brain tumours will be evaluated. The study protocol and questionnaire have been designed by IARC. Population-based cases and controls will be selected and interviewed using a standard computer-assisted questionnaire format, including a complete occupational history. Over the three year accrual period it is anticipated that 180 brain tumour cases, 45 acoustic neurinomas, 45 parotid gland tumours will be enrolled in the BC study. Three controls per case will be recruited, for a total of 1,080 participants from BC. Exposure will be estimated from self-reports and billing records (collected nationally at the Ottawa centre). Risks of brain tumours according to cell phone use will be assessed at the national level. Canadian data will also contribute to risk assessment of all cancer types at IARC using a pooled analysis.

A secondary objective of the Canadian study is to evaluate the risk of certain occupational exposures for cancers in the same sites. A second questionnaire designed by the Montreal group of the study will be utilized to evaluate potential occupational exposures of interest. Results will be pooled for the three Canadian centres and analyzed by the Montreal team.

Principal Investigator

• Mary L McBride, Vancouver

Co-Investigators

• Dan Krewski, University of Ottawa
• Jack Siemiatycki, Institut Armand-Frappier, Montreal

Project Coordinator

• Nelson Ha

Research Team

• Caroline Murphy
• Ann Moore
• Zenaida Abanto