This document is a written proposal from Eduardo E. Rivera Cintrón for a study on whether excessive cell phone use causes glioma tumors and ipsilateral exposure in Puerto Rico. The proposal outlines background research showing links between cell phone use and brain tumors found in the Interphone study. It then describes the methodology for a study in Puerto Rico comparing cell phone usage patterns and brain tumor rates in two groups over several years. Possible results from the Puerto Rico study are discussed, noting factors like culture that may lead to different outcomes than international studies.

1. University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
Written Proposal: Does the excessive use of cell phones cause glioma tumors and
ipsilateral exposure here in Puerto Rico?
Eduardo E. Rivera Cintrón
Biol- 3009
Dr. Edwin Vázquez Ph. D
July 12, 2011

2. Abstract:
The objective is to determine whether the excessively use of cell phones causes glioma
tumor and ipsilateral exposure and establish that the tumor and the ipsilateral exposure
could also be cancerous here in Puerto Rico. Based on the Interphone study done in 13
countries (all outside the United States) their was a dramatically increase of risk of
obtaining brain cancer and formation of numerous tumors. The method will mainly focus
on two groups. The first group consists of patients having glioma tumors and patients
without glioma tumors. Another groups consist of people that talk excessively through
the cell phone and people that use the cell phone when needed and doesn’t talk
excessively. Each person in the group will continue living their normal lives but will be
monitored. There will be specific dates in which the people will pass by a controlling
center. In this controlling center the people will receive a handed survey with formulated
questions. In other occasions the people will go through an interview to determine that
what they are saying matches our records. The possible results in Puerto Rico are not
going to be the same compared to the ones obtained by the interphone study. In Puerto
Rico there would be several factors that could influence in the results obtained. In
conclusion there is an association with cell phones and tumors or brain cancer. Further
studies are required to know to what extent could this go and determine whether the use
of cell phone is the only thing that causes brain cancer or tumors.

3. Introduction
Through the past few years we have seen a significantly increase in the use of cell phones
and even a higher increase in the users and the time spent on them. As result of the
excessive use there has been a concern on whether the electromagnetic radiofrequency
fields show possible carcinogenic effect on the user. There have been numerous studies
on this issue. The majority didn’t find a link between the excessive use of cell phone and
formation of tumors. However, most studies found that there is a possible link between
the use of cell phone and formation of brain tumor in a period to ten or more years. Our
objective is to determine whether it’s true that the excessive use of cell phones could
cause glioma tumors and ipsilateral exposure in a period of ten to fifteen years. Based on
the results that are obtained it will be establish that they can also be cancerous. During
the period of ten years there will be a higher risk of the formation of glioma tumors. The
ipsilateral exposure will show a significantly increase of risk in the period of ten or more
years.

4. Background
There were recent studies done in 13 countries (all outside the United States) called the
Interphone study. These countries are: Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK. With these
studies you can see how the potential risk of obtaining glioma tumors, ipsilateral
exposure and brain cancer are significantly high with the use of several phones (analog
cell phones, digital cell phones and cordless phones). Next you will find a series of
graphs explaining how the use of cell phones shows a high risk.
A. Analysis by cumulative hours of use:
The following graph show the increase of brain cancer based on the number of
hours talked, despite the kind of wireless phone used.

5. B. Analysis by years of use:
This graph show the increase of brain cancer in a short time, then increases
noticeably for longer periods of time.

6. C. Analysis by use of wireless phone on the same side of the head:
The side of the head where you use your wireless phone is where the brain
absorbs most of the radiation.
D. Analysis for type of combinations of wireless phones used:

7. Ever phone shows an increase of risk of obtaining cancer. But combining them
with other wireless phones show even a higher risk. With this graph you could see
that no wireless phones are safe now in days.

8. E. In this graph show the risk of 66% of obtaining glioma tumor based on years and on
absorbed energy at the location of the tumor:

9. Methodology
The study is mainly based on two groups choosing the people that fit perfectly in the
study groups. The first groups consist of patients with glioma tumors and patients without
glioma tumors. The second groups consist of people that talk excessively through the cell
phone and people that don’t talk that much through the cell phone. These two groups
will be living their normal lives but will be monitored. There will be specific dates in
which we will ask them a serious of questions related to their cell phone activity and see
if it matches our records. The participants will be ask to identify the number of calls
made and received, duration of the calls, if there was a change of pattern of use over a
period of more than 6 months, if they use any headsets or hands- free devices, which side
of the head the cell phone was predominantly held, and main area of usage (urban/ rural/
both). As time passes the team working with the research will divide the results in the
groups mentioned earlier and perform a diagnostic of the research in graphs or tables.
They will be given specific cell phones that emit high radiation to the brain.

10. Possible results
The
possible
outcome
of
this
study
will
vary
compared
to
the
Interphone
study
done
in
the
13
countries.
In
Puerto
Rico
is
expected
that
there
will
be
a
high
risk
in
obtaining
glioma
tumors
and
ipsilateral
exposure.
Also
is
expected
within
the
tumors
that
the
majority
will
be
cancerous.
The
people
that
talk
excessively
will
have
a
dramatically
risk
of
obtaining
brain
cancer
due
to
moderate
time
dedicated
to
the
phone.
As
we
go
further
in
the
study
we
may
encounter
numerous
factors
in
which
changes
the
results
of
Puerto
Rico
compare
to
the
outside
countries.
These
factors
could
be:
population,
environment,
cultural
influence,
health
conditions,
and
economical.
The
participants
in
the
study
may
vary
due
to
the
population
in
Puerto
Rico
is
enormously
different
from
Europe
and
other
countries
that
participated
in
the
Interphone
study.
Due
to
rural
and
urban
areas
the
risk
may
change
because
in
Puerto
Rico
there
is
a
lot
of
urban
areas
and
because
of
the
antennas
that
may
be
closer
to
each
other
and
that
will
emit
more
radiofrequency.
The
cultural
influence
in
our
point
of
view
is
the
one
that
has
the
most
effect.
Puerto
Rican
people
need
to
have
everything
and
they
like
to
be
up
to
date
in
the
technology.
Due
to
this
fact,
the
uses
of
cellular
phones
are
an
important
device
in
their
lives.
The
health
condition
may
vary
because
the
people
here
in
Puerto
Rico
don’t
have
the
same
health
conditions
as
in
the
countries
where
they
performed
the
other
studies.
The
economical
aspect
the
people
need
to
have
the
best
phone
doesn’t
matter
if
they
are
upper
class
or
lower
class.
By
considering
the
cellular
phones
an
essential
device
for
their
daily
lives,
they
don’t
realize
that
maybe
the
phones
that
they
are
buying
may
have
a
lot
of
radio
frequency.
We
can
conclude
that
the
use
of
cell
phones
can
cause

11. the
formation
of
tumors
and
brain
cancer
but
in
a
higher
risk
due
to
the
factors
mentioned
earlier.
We
questioned
ourselves
how
can
we
detect
this
in
an
early
stage
of
formation
or
prevent
it.
We
would
need
to
do
further
studies
on
how
to
detect
the
tumor
or
cancer
earlier.
We
will
be
open
to
do
further
studies
to
research
what
really
causes
brain
cancers
if
its
not
the
use
of
cell
phone.
In addition you will
find a few explanatory graphs of the expected results of Puerto Rico compared to the
Interphone Studies.
A.
Risk
of
brain
cancer
due
to
hours
of
usage:
300
1
to
1,000
1,001-­‐2,000
250
2,001-­‐3,000
200
150
100
50
0
Digital
cell
phone
PR
Cordless
phone
PR
Digital
cell
phone
Cordless
phone
Inter
Inter
study
study

12. B. Risk of Brain cancer due to Years of usage:
200
180
1
to
5
years
160
6
to
10
years
140
11
to
more
120
years
100
80
60
40
20
0
Digital
cell
phone
PR
Cordless
phone
PR
Digital
cell
phone
Cordless
phone
Inter
Inter
study
study

13. C. Risk of ipsilateral exposure in a period of ten years or more
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
10
or
more
years
30
20
10
0
Digital
cell
Cordless
phone
Digital
cell
Cordless
phone
phone
PR
PR
phone
Inter
Inter
study
study

14. D. Risk of obtaining glioma tumors in a period of ten years:
Glioma
Tumors
90
80
70
60
50
40
Glioma
Tumors
30
20
10
0
Puerto
Rico
Interphone
study

15. References
• Martin Mittelstaedt; Heavy use of cell phones may increase tumour risk: study;
Published may 17, 2010.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/heavy-use-of-cell-phones-may-
increase-tumour-risk-study/article1571108/
• Joachim Schüz, Eva Böhler, Gabriele Berg, and others; 2006; Cellular Phones,
Cordless Phones, and the Risks of Glioma and Meningioma (Interphone Study
Group, Germany); American Journal of Epidemiology; Volume 163, issue; pages
512-520.
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/163/6/512.full
• Christian Nordqvist; 2006; Extensive Cell Phone Use Linked To Brain Tumors,
Swedish Study; Medical News Today; unkwnown,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/40764.php
• Christian Nordqvist; 2011; Cellphones Possibly Linked To Cancer Risk In
Humans, World Health Organization; Medical News Today; unknown
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/227011.php

16. • Natalie Wolchover; Cellphone Radiation and Brain Cancer; June 1, 2011
http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/faq-cellphone-radiation-and-brain-cancer-
1734/
• Lloyd Morgan, The latest study on the risk of brain cancer from wireless phone
use, August 17, 2006
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/columns/morgan/20060817_wireless_tumours.asp
• Lloyd Morgan, Mobile phone causes brain tumors- more evidence, June 10, 2011
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20110610-mobile-phone-tumours-
evidence.asp