World Health Organization, radiofrequency radiation and health - a hard nut to crack (Review)

PAPER manual International Journal of Oncology. 2017 Review Effect: harm Evidence: Moderate

Read original paper → DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.4046 Evidence Lab

Abstract

- World Health Organization, radiofrequency radiation and health - a hard nut to crack (Review) Hardell L. World Health Organization, radiofrequency radiation and health - a hard nut to crack (Review). International Journal of Oncology. Published online on: June 21, 2017. doi.org Abstract In May 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated cancer risks from radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Human epidemiological studies gave evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. RF radiation was classified as Group 2B, a possible human carcinogen. Further epidemiological, animal and mechanistic studies have strengthened the association. In spite of this, in most countries little or nothing has been done to reduce exposure and educate people on health hazards from RF radiation. On the contrary ambient levels have increased. In 2014 the WHO launched a draft of a Monograph on RF fields and health for public comments. It turned out that five of the six members of the Core Group in charge of the draft are affiliated with International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), an industry loyal NGO, and thus have a serious conflict of interest. Just as by ICNIRP, evaluation of non-thermal biological effects from RF radiation are dismissed as scientific evidence of adverse health effects in the Monograph. This has provoked many comments sent to the WHO. However, at a meeting on March 3, 2017 at the WHO Geneva office it was stated that the WHO has no intention to change the Core Group. Open Access Paper: spandidos-publications.com

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

harm

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

radiofrequency

Evidence strength

Moderate

Confidence: 70% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

The IARC classified RF radiation as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) based on epidemiological evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. Further studies have strengthened this association. However, WHO's draft monograph on RF fields and health has been criticized for conflicts of interest and dismissal of non-thermal biological effects as evidence of harm.

Outcomes measured

glioma
acoustic neuroma
cancer risk

Limitations

Potential conflict of interest in WHO Core Group drafting the monograph
Dismissal of non-thermal biological effects by WHO and ICNIRP
Lack of action to reduce exposure despite evidence

Suggested hubs

who-icnirp (0.9)
Discusses WHO and ICNIRP involvement and conflicts of interest in RF radiation health evaluation.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "radiofrequency",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "glioma",
        "acoustic neuroma",
        "cancer risk"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The IARC classified RF radiation as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) based on epidemiological evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. Further studies have strengthened this association. However, WHO's draft monograph on RF fields and health has been criticized for conflicts of interest and dismissal of non-thermal biological effects as evidence of harm.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Potential conflict of interest in WHO Core Group drafting the monograph",
        "Dismissal of non-thermal biological effects by WHO and ICNIRP",
        "Lack of action to reduce exposure despite evidence"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "RF",
        "cancer risk",
        "glioma",
        "acoustic neuroma",
        "IARC",
        "WHO",
        "ICNIRP",
        "non-thermal effects"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Discusses WHO and ICNIRP involvement and conflicts of interest in RF radiation health evaluation."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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