International cohort study of mobile phone users (COSMOS)

Aim of the study

The aim of the study is to evaluate possible health effects caused by radiofrequency fields emitted by mobile phones.

Implementation

Mobile phone users with differing amount of usage will be recruited from network operators. Questionnaires will be used to collect information about mobile phone use and established risk factors for intracranial tumours and neurological diseases (including cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Information on number and duration of calls will be obtained from the network operators. Also, symptoms including headache, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders as well as health-related quality of life will be evaluated.

The cohort members will be followed up regarding incidence of intracranial tumours through the Finnish Cancer Registry and new cases of neurological disease will be identified through the Hospital Discharge Registry as well as the prescription database of the Social Insurance Institution. The project has been funded by the National Technology Agency (TEKES) research programme ‘WireCom’.

Analyses will be conducted in collaboration with the international study group including researchers from Sweden, Denmark, UK and the Netherlands.

Dissemination and exploitation of results

Results will be published in a scientific article.

Collaborators

University of Tampere, Elisa Oyj, TeliaSonera Finland; Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Imperial College, London, UK; Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Utrecht, the Netherlands

Timetable

Recruitment will be completed in 2009– 2011. After that, the cohort will be followed up for several years.

Responsible scientist

Anssi Auvinen and Sirpa Heinävaara

Publications

Heinävaara S, Tokola K, Kurttio P, Auvinen A. Validation of exposure assessment and assessment of recruitment methods for a prospective cohort study of mobile phone users (COSMOS) in Finland: a pilot study. Environ Health 2011;10:14.

Schüz J, Elliott P, Auvinen A, Kromhout H, Poulsen AH, Johansen C, Olsen JH, Hillert L, Feychting M, Fremling K, Toledano M, Heinävaara S, Slottje P, Vermeulen R, Ahlbom A. An international prospective cohort study of mobile phone users and health (Cosmos): design considerations and enrolment. Cancer Epidemiol 2011;35:37-43.

Page updated 07/02/2012