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Research
We fund independent research on the safety of RF energy in many countries, directly and through our trade associations. We have funded research in Canada, China, Japan, Russia, the U.S. and the European Union. The substantial body of scientific knowledge in this area continues to grow.
The state of the research regarding RF energy and health is reviewed on an ongoing basis by expert health agencies around the world, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and national health agencies (such as that Food and Drug Administration in the U.S.). Occasionally, a study may produce results that are inconsistent with previous research. In such a case, the authorities look to determine whether the findings warrant further research to determine their validity and significance. Under the scientific process, no single study can answer any scientific question, and no study should be viewed in isolation. Public health assessments like those conducted by WHO and IARC depend on comprehensive evaluations that consider all relevant research. After all the reviews to date, these experts have continued to reach a common conclusion: RF exposure within established guidelines poses no known health risk.
Summary of recent research
The following reports conclude that current evidence does not suggest that adverse health effects are produced by radio-frequency (RF) exposure below the ICNIRP and IEEE limits. Some reports comment that more research is needed on the longer-term effects of RF exposure.
Expert reviews published in 2010-2011:
- The INTERPHONE Study Group report on mobile phone use and brain cancer risk
- Health Advice on Mobile Phones, U.K. Health Protection Agency (February 2010)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration statement on the Interphone Study
INTERPHONE study
The INTERPHONE Study, a multi-year, multi-country research project concerning the use of mobile phones and adverse health effects, is consistent with previous studies and the significant body of research, reporting no increased health risk from using mobile phones.
The findings of the study, which is the largest epidemiological study conducted on mobile phone use, were summarized in a statement by Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the organization that coordinated the study:
"An increased risk of brain cancer is not established from the data from INTERPHONE. However, observations at the highest level of cumulative call time and the changing patterns of mobile phone use since the period studied by INTERPHONE, particularly in young people, mean that further investigation of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk is merited.”
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) published a review of the scientific evidence on the health effects of radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones, including the results of INTERPHONE. The review concluded that: “the existing evidence did not support an increased risk of brain tumors in mobile phone users within the duration of use yet investigated. The subsequent publication of the INTERPHONE study has added greatly to the volume of evidence available. ICNIRP believes on preliminary review of the results, however, that they do not change the overall conclusions. ICNIRP therefore considers that the results of the study give no reason for alteration of the current guidelines.”
On reviewing the Interphone Study the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated: “available scientific evidence - including World Health Organization (WHO) findings released 17 May 2010 - shows no increased health risk due to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by cell phones.” The FDA also cites a separate National Cancer Institute program finding that, despite the dramatic increase in cell phone use, occurrences of brain cancer did not increase between 1987 and 2005.
Motorola has funded independent research or jointly sponsored research on RF energy measurements and the potential health effects at the following programs and institutions:
