Trends in brain cancers (glioma) in New Zealand from 1995 to 2020, with reference to mobile phone use

Abstract

Trends in brain cancers (glioma) in New Zealand from 1995 to 2020, with reference to mobile phone use My note: The study has several shortcomings: (1) it did not examine incidence rates over time for Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common type of glioma (brain cancer). Phillips et al (2018) found that GBM increased substantially over time in England despite a flat trend for glioma. (2) The authors combined temporal and parietal lobe tumors and examined the incidence over time. Their rationale was that these lobes received the most exposure to cell phone radiation; however, Cabré-Riera et al (2020) found that the temporal and frontal lobes received the most exposure; the parietal lobe received the least exposure. Philips et al (2018). Brain Tumours: Rise in Glioblastoma Multiforme Incidence in England 1995–2015 Suggests an Adverse Environmental or Lifestyle Factor. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, doi:10.1155/2018/7910754. Cabré-Riera et al (2020). Estimated whole-brain and lobe-specific radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses and brain volumes in preadolescents. Environ Int. 142:105808. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105808. J Mark Elwood, Shwe Sin Win, Phyu Sin Aye, Masoumeh Sanagou. Trends in brain cancers (glioma) in New Zealand from 1995 to 2020, with reference to mobile phone use. Cancer Epidemiol. 2022 Aug 9;80:102234. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2022.102234. Highlights • Hypothesis is that mobile phone use increases brain cancers such as glioma. • Mobile phone use in New Zealand increased greatly between 1990 and 2006. • Incidence of glioma from 1995 to 2020 showed no increase at ages 10–69 • No evidence that phone use increases risk even after many years. Abstract Background: Some case-control studies have suggested substantial increased risks of glioma in association with mobile phone use; these risks would lead to an increase in incidence over time. Methods: Incidence rates of glioma from 1995 to 2020 by age, sex, and site in New Zealand (NZ) recorded by the national cancer registry were assessed and trends analysed. Phone use was based on surveys. Results: In these 25 years there were 6677 incident gliomas, giving age-standardised rates (WHO world standard) of 6.04 in males, and 3.95 in females per 100,000. The use of mobile phones increased rapidly from 1990 to more than 50% of the population from about 2000, and almost all the population from 2006. The incidence of glioma from ages 10-69 has shown a small decrease over the last 25 years, during which time the use of mobile phones has become almost universal. Rates in the brain locations receiving most radiofrequency energy have also shown a small decrease. Rates at ages of 80 and over have increased. Conclusion: There is no indication of any increase related to the use of mobile phones. These results are similar to results in Australia and in many other countries. The increase in recorded incidence at ages over 80 is similar to that seen in other countries and consistent with improved diagnostic methods. Excerpts In contrast, the incidence of glioma at ages 70 and over has shown a substantial increase over time (Fig. 5), the annual percentage changes being in males 1.5% (95% limits 0.3–2.8), and in females 1.3% (95% limits 0.3–2.3). The increase has been regular throughout the 1995–2020 period in females. In men, the rates rose more quickly from 1995 to 2011, and have since declined: however, this change is not significant and a linear increase gives the best fit to the data. Further examination shows that the increase is significant in the 80–84 and 85 + age groups, while the 70–74 and 75–79 year old groups show no significant increase (Fig. 6, Table 2). These older groups have a lower incidence of glioma than the 75–79 and 70–75 year old groups, but their rising rates have reduced this difference over time. In conclusion, the incidence of glioma in the New Zealand population from ages 10–69 has shown a small decrease over the last 25 years, during which time the use of mobile phones has become almost universal. There is no indication of any increase related to the use of mobile phones. There has been an increase in recorded incidence at ages over 80, similar to that seen in other countries and consistent with improved diagnostic methods. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

From 1995 to 2020, glioma incidence in ages 10-69 in New Zealand showed a small decrease despite widespread mobile phone use. Incidence in brain regions receiving most radiofrequency energy also decreased. Glioma incidence increased in ages 80+ but this is attributed to improved diagnostics. No evidence was found linking mobile phone use to increased glioma risk.

Outcomes measured

• glioma incidence rates
• glioma incidence by brain location
• glioma incidence by age group

Limitations

• Did not examine glioblastoma incidence separately, which is the most common glioma type
• Combined temporal and parietal lobe tumors despite differing exposure levels
• Ecological study design limits causal inference

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phone-exposure (0.9)
  Study focuses on mobile phone use and brain cancer incidence.

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    "study_type": "ecological",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1990 to 2020"
    },
    "population": "New Zealand population, ages 10-69 and 70+",
    "sample_size": 6677,
    "outcomes": [
        "glioma incidence rates",
        "glioma incidence by brain location",
        "glioma incidence by age group"
    ],
    "main_findings": "From 1995 to 2020, glioma incidence in ages 10-69 in New Zealand showed a small decrease despite widespread mobile phone use. Incidence in brain regions receiving most radiofrequency energy also decreased. Glioma incidence increased in ages 80+ but this is attributed to improved diagnostics. No evidence was found linking mobile phone use to increased glioma risk.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Did not examine glioblastoma incidence separately, which is the most common glioma type",
        "Combined temporal and parietal lobe tumors despite differing exposure levels",
        "Ecological study design limits causal inference"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "glioma",
        "brain cancer",
        "mobile phone use",
        "incidence trends",
        "New Zealand",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phone-exposure",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study focuses on mobile phone use and brain cancer incidence."
        }
    ]
}

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