Discussion

Results among investigations were inconsistent, and these investigations indicated little or no
association between exposure to RF and microwave radiation and cancer. It should be noted that the
weak evidence on carcinogenicity obtained from several epidemiological studies applies only to the
type of cancer studied and to the time intervals observed between exposure and occurrence of disease.
Also, experience with cancer in people indicates that, in some cases, the period from first exposure to
the development of clinical cancer is seldom less than 20 years; moreover, latency periods
substantially shorter than 30 years cannot provide evidence for lack of carcinogenicity .
Progress and changes in mobile phone technology (such as analogue to digital signals) make it
difficult to assess exposure in the people studied. Furthermore, because the use of mobile phones is
relatively recent, it may be premature to conduct an exhaustive epidemiological assessment of its
impact on health. In the case of cancer, for example, the information available does not rule out the
possibility of an association between the use of mobile phones and the occurrence of this disease.
Thus, it is advisable to monitor the incidence of tumours supposedly associated with exposure to RF
and microwave radiation, to assess possible changes in trends.