PRESS RELEASE: Scientists Challenge No Risk Conclusion, Warning–Cellphones Can Increase Brain Cancer Risk in Children
The press release below announces correspondence recently published by the Journal of the National Cancer Insitute regarding the widely critiqued CEFALO study. ElectromagneticHealth.org published an analysis of this study’s flaws in April 2011 “Careful Analysis of Study Claiming No Brain Tumor Risk from Childhood Cell Phone Use Shows the Abstract and Conclusions Are Misleading.” At the time, we called on media and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute to correct the misleading reporting, which had been widely distributed to the media, and to clarify the risks for childhood brain tumors found in this study. We are glad to see the Journal of the National Cancer Institute publish this letter critiquing the study by L. Lloyd Morgan et al.
Press Release
Scientists Challenge No Risk Conclusion, Warning–Cellphones Can Increase Brain Cancer Risk in Children
Last July, the first study of the risk of brain cancer associated with cellphone use among children and adolescents was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study (http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/07/27/jnci.djr244.abstract) concluded that,
“The absence of an exposure–response relationship either in terms of the amount of mobile phone use or by localization of the brain tumor argues against a causal association.”
Today, the Journal published Letters to the Editor (Correspondences) by highly respected scientists that refute this conclusion and makes it clear that the published findings, in contrast to the authors’ cryptic conclusion, indicates a serious risk of brain cancer associated with cellphone use.
These Letters to the Editor also pointed out multiple examples of contradictory data that implied that the peer review was inadequate.
For example, using cellphone billing records (which do not rely on the children’s memory of their cellphone use) the study found a statistically significant 115% increased risk of brain cancer after more than 2.8 years since they first had a cellphone subscription. The study also reported a 99.9% of confidence that the more the cellphone was used, the higher the risk of brain cancer (indicating a dose-response relationship).
One example of these contradictory data was: the reported percentages of children with billing records would mean that there should be 123 children with brain cancer (cases), and 200 children without brain cancer (controls). Yet the table that reported the number of cases and controls listed 196 cases and 360 controls. It is surprising that peer reviewers would not have noted this contradiction.
When the study was published, Dr. Joel Moskowitz, from the School of Public Health at the University of California—Berkeley commented,
“In my opinion, the interpretation of the results from this study and the accompanying editorial were biased in an attempt to reduce concerns that cell phone use increases brain tumor risk among children and adolescents.”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer quoted Moskowitz, “They did report a number of significant associations between cell phone use, in terms of number of years of use, with brain tumor risk in children, and they try to dismiss those, as well.”
Dr. Sam Milham in his Correspondence writes,
“If, as the authors … conclude, mobile phone use is not associated with brain cancer in children …, there should be as many odds ratios greater than 1 as the number of odds ratios less than 1.[1] In table 2, all of the 13 calculated odds ratios are greater than 1.0. …”and goes on to show similarly skewed odds ratios in other tables.
Last December another highly respected group of researchers published a Commentary (http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/106) in the journal Environmental Health. They stated,
“… in spite of low exposure, short latency period and limitations in study design, analyses and interpretation, there are nevertheless indications of increased risk in [the study].”
In summary this study provided evidence that children and adolescents have a substantial risk of brain cancer from cellphone use and that the time between first use and diagnosis of the cancer may be quite short.
L. Lloyd Morgan, Environmental Health Trust
Devra Davis, Ph.D, MPH, Founder Environmental Health Trust
Ronald B. Herberman, MD, Environmental Health Trust & Intrexon Corp
Alasdair Philips, Founder Powerwatch UK
Contacts:
Lloyd Morgan, Berkeley California, USA (+510 841-4362, Lloyd.L.Morgan@gmail.com)
Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D. Director, Center for Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California—Berkeley (+510 643-7314, jmm@berkeley.edu)
Professor Lennart Hardell, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden (W: +46 19 602-2315, +46 19 32 3640, lennart_hardell@hotmail.com, lennart.hardell@orebroll.se)
___________________________________________________________________________
[1] Think about flipping a coin to determine if it is biased. Flip it 13 times and always get heads, what would you conclude?
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The following press release was released by the Bernstein Liebhard law firm, based on coverage of the JNCI letter.
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Scientists Question Cell Phone Cancer Study
Bernstein Liebhard LLP echoes concerns raised by scientists who dispute the findings of a recent cell phone cancer study. Critics claim that the cell phone link to cancer in children should not be dismissed.
New York, NY (PRWEB) April 10, 2012
Bernstein Liebhard LLP echoes concerns raised by the Environmental Health Trust, concluding that the findings from a July 2011 cell phone cancer study are inaccurate.* On April 5, 2012, ABC News reported that scientists from the Environmental Health Trust issued a letter stating that the results from a July 2011 cell phone cancer study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute are flawed. According to ABC News, Lloyd Morgan, a senior research fellow at the Environmental Health Trust and one of the authors of the letter, called the cell phone cancer study sloppy and said that the data actually shows that children who used cell phones had a 115 percent increased risk of brain tumors over those who did not. In criticizing the study, Morgan said, Theres every indication that this study actually found that children have a doubled risk of brain cancer. He added, For [the researchers] to just state that we dont think theres a problem is, for me, quite mystifying.
In light of this latest development, Bernstein Liebhard LLP partner, Jeffrey S. Grand, commented Whats perhaps most concerning is that when they examined cell-phone usage records, the increased risk of brain cancer in children began to emerge after only 2.8 years of cell-phone use, which is a shorter time period than seen in previous studies. The cell phone radiation lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are currently representing individuals who used a cell phone for significant time periods for more than seven years and developed glioma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma, or a tumor of the salivary gland.
Dissecting The Flaws Of Earlier Cell Phone Cancer Study
The study at the center of this latest controversy was conducted by researchers at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Researchers found that of the children studied, 350 had been diagnosed with brain cancer and 650 were healthy. As reported by ABC News, the July 2011 cell phone cancer study concluded that a review of the data showed that there was no cell phone link to cancer in children. However, Martin Roosli, author of the cell phone cancer study, noted some limitations. In addition to conceding that a small number of children were studied, researchers stated that they could not rule out the possibility that mobile phones confer a small increase in risk. The July 2011 cell phone cancer study was the first to examine the link between cell phone use and the risk of brain tumors in children and adolescents. Although researchers argued against a causal association between cell phone use and brain tumors, many experts are not persuaded. According to ABC News, Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California-Berkeleys School of Public Health, believes that the current evidence showing a link between cell phone radiation and cancer is enough to take these concerns seriously. You cant prove that its cell phone radiation, but we certainly have a smoking gun, Moskowitz said.
Cell Phone Radiation Exposure Health Advisory Issued By WHO
In May 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the health effects of cell phone use and reclassified the radiation emitted by cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The WHO advisory extends to all cell phone users, not just children and adolescents.
*abcnews.go.com/Health/cellphone-child-brain-cancer-study-flawed-critics/story?id=16082731
For more information about filing a cell phone radiation lawsuit, contact an attorney at Bernstein Liebhard LLP at (877) 779-1414 or at info(at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com.
About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993, including those who have been harmed by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices and consumer products. The firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the Plaintiffs Hot List, recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country, for the past nine consecutive years. Only two firms in the country have been selected for the Hot List nine years in a row.
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ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2012 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Amy L. Abate. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
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http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebscientists-question-cell/cell-phone-link-cancer-ki/prweb9384698.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/04/10/prweb9384698.DTL
http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-cell-phone-cancer-study-154210465.html
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/12/04/p2485055/scientists-question-cell-phone-cancer-study
http://www.bioportfolio.com/news/article/1007781/Scientists-Question-Cell-Phone-Cancer-Study.html
http://news.morningstar.com/all/acquire-news/ff808081369ada9801369cebb9e8662a/scientists-question-cell-phone-cancer-study.aspx
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Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuit
Bernstein Liebhard LLP, undated
Viable Causes of Action Alleged in Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuits
Individuals nationwide have suffered serious side effects as a result of using cell phones. As a result, plaintiffs have filed a growing number of cell phone radiation lawsuits, alleging that they have suffered damages as a direct and proximate result of the wrongful and negligent misconduct of cell phone manufacturers. In complaints filed around the country, plaintiffs are alleging multiple causes of action against cell phone manufacturers. The causes of action asserted by plaintiffs involved in the cell phone radiation lawsuits include: negligent misrepresentation of the safety of cell phones, failure to warn consumers of the risks associated with cell phone use, and that the defective design of cell phone makes them unsafe for consumer use.
Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuits: Negligent Misrepresentation
Plaintiffs filing cell phone radiation lawsuits allege that the manufacturers of mobile devices misrepresented facts to the public. Specifically, the cell phone radiation lawsuits allege that the manufacturers knew or should have known that their representations and warranties regarding the safety of cell phones were misleading and false. Further, the cell phone radiation lawsuits claim that manufacturers misrepresented that their mobile devices complied with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. The cell phone radiation lawsuits claim that if consumers had been given accurate and adequate information about the risks associated with cell phone use, it is probable that many consumers would have taken precautionary measures in order to avoid the harmful side effects associated with cell phones.
Related Topics
Dangerous Product Alerts
Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuits: Failure to Warn
Plaintiffs in the cell phone radiation lawsuits are also alleging that the manufacturers were in a superior position to know of the harmful effects of the radiation emitted from cell phones, and therefore should have disclosed that information to the public. Specifically, the manufacturers failed to provide and include proper and necessary warnings regarding the potential adverse health effects associated with cell phone use. Although the manufacturers knew, or should have known about the harmful effects of cell phone use, they failed to instruct consumers on how to properly use the mobile devices or inform them of the availability of protective accessories, which could have been used in order to reduce the risk of radiation exposure.
Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuits: Unsafe Product and Design Defect
Additionally, the cell phone radiation lawsuits claim that when the cell phones were manufactured, they were designed and labeled in an unsafe and defective condition, which was extremely dangerous for use by the public. Moreover, the manufacturers should have known that the foreseeable risks were far greater than the supposed benefits associated with cell phone design. The cell phone radiation lawsuits assert that the manufacturers should be held strictly liable for manufacturing and marketing unsafe cell phones to the general public.
File a Cell Phone Radiation Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has experienced any problems as a result of cell phone radiation exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and more. Contact one of our lawyers today for a free and confidential lawsuit evaluation. The lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP have extensive litigation experience and have recovered billions of dollars for their clients. In addition to being staunch advocates for your claim, our cell phone radiation injury lawyers also provide personal attention to guide you through the complex litigation process.
http://www.consumerinjurylawyers.com/cell-phone-radiation/cell-phone-radiation-lawsuit
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