INTERPHONE was initiated as an international set of case-control studies focusing on four types of tumours in tissues that most absorb radiofrequency energy emitted by mobile phones: tumours of the brain (glioma and meningioma), parotid gland and acoustic nerve (schwannoma). The objective was to determine whether mobile phone use increases the risk of these tumours and, specifically, whether radiofrequency energy (RF) emitted by mobile phones is tumourigenic.
With the delivery and acceptance of the final report by the funding bodies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announces that the Interphone study was completed in February 2012.
The conduct of the study, the main results, and additional activities aiding in the interpretation of the results are summarized in the final report.
The combined Interphone data are still centrally held at IARC and various projects are ongoing with respect to risk factors of brain tumours or acoustic neuroma, particularly factors not related to RF exposure. The Interphone investigators continue to collaborate as a consortium in this regard (see contact details below).
Requests related specifically to the conduct of Interphone or to the final report should be sent to IARC (Ms Catherine Chassin, Section of Environment and Radiation, chassinc@iarc.fr).