Abstract
Background and Aims: Brain tumours are the second most common neoplasms in young people. Apart from exposure to ionizing radiation and genetic predispositions, little is known about risk factors for these tumours. Mobi-Kids will study effects of environmental factors on brain tumour risk in young people, with particular focus on electromagnetic fields from mobile phones and other communication technologies. Methods: Mobi-Kids is a collaborative case-control study starting in 12 countries (Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, The Netherland)s using a common core protocol. Cases are 10-24 years old patients newly diagnosed with a brain tumour. Controls are patients hospitalized for appendicitis within the participating regions, individually matched to cases on age, sex and region of residence. A face-to-face interview will be held with participants and their parents to assess lifestyle, residential and school history, use of communication technologies, exposure to environmental risk factors, medical history and family history of cancer. Particular attention will be paid to issues of potential selection bias related to the low response rates of population-based controls (by selecting hospitalised controls) and potential recall errors (by validating questionnaire responses on mobile phone use with user data from network operators). Improved exposure indices for RF will be derived taking into account spatial distribution of energy in the brain at different ages; ELF from the phones will also be considered, as well as other important sources of EMF and chemical exposures in the general environment of young people. Results: Data collection has started in most participating countries.. The study is expected to include nearly 2000 brain tumour cases and twice as many controls during a 2.5-year study period. Conclusion: MOBI-KIDS will generate novel insights in brain tumour aetiology among young people. In particular it will address the association with information technology.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
