WASHINGTON-Wireless industry-funded cancer research will last longer and cost millions of dollars more than originally planned and the Food and Drug Administration will assume a bigger role in establishing the remaining scientific agenda, according to key individuals associated with the program.
This week two significant events are expected to occur that will shape the final year or two of the struggling program, which is now approaching the fifth but not necessarily final year of a project originally budgeted at $25 million. The cost could grow 8 million to 10 million beyond that figure, with more added costs well into the future as post-market surveillance is conducted to identify any possible health risk from pocket phones.
First, Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association are likely to sign an agreement to indemnify WTR scientists. At the same time, the two groups will sign a memorandum of understanding that outlines RF research to be conducted during the remainder of the program.
To date, WTR has spent $15 million and produced one epidemiology study. That study, which is fairly general in scope, found virtually no difference in the mortality rate between people who used pocket phones and those who used car phones. If a cancer risk exists, it would be limited to pocket phones because the energy-producing antenna is built into the phone and placed against the head. Most of the 45 million mobile phones are the hand-held style.
The federal government says existing research is insufficient to determine whether pocket phones cause brain cancer, though regulators have declined to take wireless phones off the market.
Various lawsuits around the country make the cancer claim, though no product liability awards have been handed down.
The legitimacy of recent research showing RF microwaves cause single- and double-strand DNA breaks, a possible precursor to cancer, is being hotly debated in scientific and industry circles.
Second this week, WTR is due to receive a letter from the FDA strongly urging that remaining research dollars be spent on exposing rats’ heads to RF radiation over their lifetimes. It is unclear whether WTR, under pressure by policy-makers and industry to produce fresh scientific findings, sought the letter to give it direction and possibly political cover as the research program arrives at a critical crossroads.
Despite legal, funding and administrative problems that have caused delays and hurt morale among scientists, WTR chairman George Carlo said he’s confident the program will shed more light on whether pocket phones pose a public health risk as well as set the foundation for future research.
“At the end of the $25 million … it will be probably into the sixth year, we’re going to have significant work done,” said Carlo. “I guarantee it.”
Specifically, Carlo promised multiple epidemiology and cell culture studies will be completed and costly/time-consuming rat RF exposure studies will be underway.
Carlo insists WTR remains independent, but acknowledged the wireless industry has tried to exert influence and interfere on his work but not to the point of compromising basic research.
Next week: Carlo and his critics.
