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Study of Cellphone Risks Finds 'Some Evidence' of Link to Cancer, at Least in Male Rats
For decades, health experts have struggled to determine whether or not cellphones can cause cancer. On Thursday, a federal agency released the final results of what experts call the world's largest and most costly experiment to look into the question. The study originated in the Clinton administration, cost $30 million and involved some 3,000 rodents.
The experiment, by the National Toxicology Program, found positive but relatively modest evidence that radio waves from some types of cellphones could raise the risk that male rats develop brain cancer. "We believe that the link between radio-frequency radiation and tumors in male rats is real," John Bucher, a senior scientist at the National Toxicology Program, said in a statement.
But he cautioned that the exposure levels and durations were far greater than what people typically encounter, and thus cannot "be compared directly to the exposure that humans experience." Moreover, the rat study examined the effects of a radio frequency associated with an early generation of cellphone technology, one that fell out of routine use years ago. Any concerns arising from the study thus would seem to apply mainly to early adopters who used those bygone devices, not to users of current models.
[...] The rats were exposed to radiation at a frequency of 900 megahertz — typical of the second generation of cellphones that prevailed in the 1990s, when the study was first conceived. Current cellphones represent a fourth generation, known as 4G, and 5G phones are expected to debut around 2020. They employ much higher frequencies, and these radio waves are far less successful at penetrating the bodies of humans and rats, scientists say.
Previously: Major Cell Phone Radiation Study Reignites Cancer Questions
First Clear Evidence Cell Phone Radiation Can Cause Cancer In Rats
Related: Dim-Bulb Politician Wants Warning on Cell Phones
California Issues Warning Over Cellphones; Study Links Non-Ionizing Radiation to Miscarriage
Mill Valley, California Blocks 5G Over Health Concerns
(Score: 4, Informative) by MostCynical on Saturday November 03 2018, @11:59AM (4 children)
$10,000 per rat
$10,000 per rat
Assuming they went to the most expensive supplier [laboratoryanimalsciencebuyersguide.com], $100 per rat is about as bad as it gets.
They all got nice surgery, and individual cremations, and lovely rat homes while they got zapped.. and still thousands per rat left over.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Informative) by Bobs on Saturday November 03 2018, @01:25PM
Not cheap, but care and feeding of 3,000 rats over 2 years, 3,000 dissections, tracking and analysis of results. Lab space for 3k rates, cages, probably air conditioning, lab assistants to feed, clean monitor and measure rodents over 3 years, scientists to design study, apply for grants, assess and analyze the results, then fight with industry to publish results. University overhead.
Don’t have specific details on this but large, multi-year, scientifically valid studies with lots of people involved ain’t cheap.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 03 2018, @04:08PM
Gov facilities charge $3 per day per cage. For two rats per cage thats about $500 per year just to store one. Now, there is no reason for it to cost so much since universities have similar facilities for half or less that, but thats how your gov rolls.
(Score: 4, Funny) by inertnet on Saturday November 03 2018, @05:50PM
It's so expensive because those rats all needed unlimited plans to stay on the phone all day.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Saturday November 03 2018, @07:32PM
How much does the exterminator charge per rat to get rid of them?
Does he sell them back to laboratories?
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.