The aim of this letter is to point out the following considerations. (1) There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation (ERR) based predominantly on epidemiological studies.… Click to show full abstract
The aim of this letter is to point out the following considerations. (1) There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation (ERR) based predominantly on epidemiological studies. However, epidemiological research on radiation risks is associated with bias: dose-dependent selection and self-selection as well as recall bias etc. (2) There has been no substantial increase in brain tumor incidence despite the tremendous rise of mobile phone use. Animal studies have consistently shown no increase in cancer risk due to long-term exposure to ERR. (3) The damage per unit of absorbed energy tends to increase with the decreasing wavelength, which is evident not only for ionizing and ultraviolet radiation but also for infrared and visible light causing thermal damage at absorbed energies that would be harmless for ERR heating tissues more evenly, i.e. having a higher penetration depth. (4) Reported risks from ERR are of non-thermal intensity. However, UHF-therapy of thermal intensity has been widely used in the former Soviet Union for the treatment of inflammatory otorhinolaryngolical conditions since the early 1960s, overviewed in. Associations with cancer have never been reported, although overexposure of tissues such as eye lenses and brain can occur if certain output power levels are exceeded. Considering anatomical proximity of tonsils, nasal cavity and brain, especially in children, there have been concerns about UHF-therapy (Ultra High Frequency) in otorhinolaryngology. A single case of transitory strabismus and dysphagia in a child coinciding with
               
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