Cellphone/cancer link to be considered

LYONS, France, May 20 (UPI) -- Scientists at a U.N.-sponsored meeting in France say they'll try to determine if the almost universal use of cellphones risks a global cancer epidemic.

Researchers will analyze numerous, often-conflicting studies on possible links between "radio-frequency radiation" and brain malignancies, Canada's National Post reported Friday.

Two Canadians -- Jack Siemiatycki, a University of Montreal epidemiology professor, and James McNamee, a Health Canada scientist -- are among 31 researchers attending the meeting in Lyons arranged by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Post reported.

Observing the meeting will be three wireless industry groups and an official from the Canadian Cancer Society, who says the group is constantly asked about the risks of mobile devices.

"It's a question we often get from the public; it's a question we often get from the media," said Gillian Bromfield, senior manager of cancer-control policy at the society.

Scientists themselves are divided on the issue, and the spectrum of opinion will be represented at the IARC meeting, Siemiatycki said.

"It gets a little bit to the question of the so-called precautionary principle: if you don't know, you're better to avoid or reduce," Siemiatycki said.

"It's an interesting principle, but if we had applied it 2,000 years ago, we'd still be in caves, making fires by rubbing sticks together.

"At what point does the precautionary principle paralyze any technological development?"