TK Junk Mail
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| reply to Midak
Re: Funded by...
said by Midak  :The study was funded by Nokia  I know you were kidding, but there is actual truth here. The doctor and organization that led the research, John Boice, a Vanderbilt University professor and scientific director of the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, Md., get funding from - guess what - cell phone companies.
»www.cspinet.org/integrity/nonpro···ute.html
According to Bloomberg Financial News (Mobile Phones Don't Cause Brain Cancer of Leukemia, Study Finds; 2/26/02), IEI completed a study that cost $373,000 and was funded in part by Denmark's largest phone company, Tele Danmark A/S, which is partially owned by SBC Communications, and the second-largest mobile phone service in Denmark, Sonofon A/S, owned by Telenor AS and BellSouth Corp. So, while the study appears good for cellphone users, it should still be looked at skeptically. At least as skeptically as the BBR editors look at studies by conservative think tanks about wifi, like on today's front page.
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emilf
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join:2000-06-14
Alpharetta, GA
| Actually you are wrong. The study referenced in your link was published back in 2002. The study this article references is a study that was just completed by the Danish Cancer Society (»www.cancer.dk/cancer/the+danish+···ety1.asp) which is an independent non-profit whose aim it is to:
•prevent the development of cancer
•improve patients’ chances of successful recovery
•limit the physical, psychological and social side-effects of cancer
In case you can read Danish here is an article with a little more info: »www.cancer.dk/cancer/nyheder/art···rne1.asp
Basically they are saying that the conclusions on the study are pretty solid and they don't expect to see any long term effects since people using cellphones for more than 10 years actually were slightly less likely to develop brain tumors than the general population.
They are planning two additional studies to overcome shortcomings in this study. The study did not look at the correlation between actual daily usage of the phone and cancer; and also did not look at cancer in children and youth. |
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TK Junk Mail
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| »www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16059841/ But even the lead researcher doubts it will end the debate.
“There’s really no biological basis for you to be concerned about radio waves,” said John Boice, a Vanderbilt University professor and scientific director of the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, Md. “Nonetheless, people are.”
So Boice and colleagues at Copenhagen’s Danish Cancer Society plan to continue tracking the Danish callers until at least some have used the phones for 30 years. Yes, I know it wasn't the same study. But the lead researcher that did this study and his institute have accepted money from the cell phone companies for past cellphone cancer studies. Proof of who funded this particular study will have to wait a year or more until the relevant forms are filed with the government. But since the lead researcher in this study has accepted cellphone company money previously, I'll remain skeptical.
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emilf
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Alpharetta, GA
| I am not sure where the author of the article got the idea that Boice was the lead researcher, I have not seen any mention of that elsewhere. However there is no need to wait to see who funded the study. It was funded by the Danish Cancer Society and not by any industry interests. I also found an article in English that details the results of the study:
»www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/B···/tb/4634
While I couldn't agree more that it is extremely important to look at the source of any study, I think that it is also important to look a little deeper into the background if you are going to imply that the results are tainted. |
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TK Junk Mail
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| said by emilf :I am not sure where the author of the article got the idea that Boice was the lead researcher, I have not seen any mention of that elsewhere. »jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournal···/23/1707
ARTICLE
Cellular Telephone Use and Cancer Risk: Update of a Nationwide Danish Cohort
Joachim Schüz, Rune Jacobsen, Jørgen H. Olsen, John D. Boice, Jr, Joseph K. McLaughlin, Christoffer Johansen
Affiliations of authors: Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark (JS, RJ, JHO, CJ); International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD (JDB, JKM); Vanderbilt–Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN (JDB, JKM) Proof, at least, that he was one of the authors.
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emilf
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Alpharetta, GA
| Sure, I am not disputing that. He has previously participated in a study that found no direct link between cellphone usage and cancer, and that study was funded by a carrier. While it certainly gives you reason to look at the results and methods used it does not automatically disqualify the results as false.
In either case just because Boice has participated in another study does not mean that the new study has incorrect results or conclusions.
The interesting thing to look at here is, as you correctly stated, who funded the study, and does the organization funding the study have any vested interest in reaching a particular conclusion. In this case the Danish Cancer Society if anything would have an interest in showing a link since it is their mission to promote awareness about cancer and a link would create a very high awareness. |
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Michieru
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Miami, FL | Usually in administration if they receive funding from a company they will do what's in there funders best interest. People especially those who know politics will always be skeptical even if the information is indeed accurate. |
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emilf
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Alpharetta, GA
| And the Danish Cancer Society is not company sponsored. The vast majority of their funds come from being mentioned in wills, membership fees, lotteries and the Danish government. Even though they might get some donations from companies, they would not affect the outcome of any studies. That's just not the way things are done in Denmark.
Should that ever happen there would be a huge outcry and the credibility of the organization would be ruined leading to the loss of their main income streams. Not something they would want to risk even if offered.
But yeah - being skeptical is good. You should always consider the bias of your source. However there is a difference between being a skeptic and being paranoid |
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