Can't Prove a Negative: Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer
A World Heath Organization (WHO) study on cell phones and brain cancer has been published. It tracked 13,000 cell phone users over a number of years. The study showed no association between brain cancer and cell phone use. Statistically, people who used cell phones had a decreased rate of brain cancer.
Despite this, and despite every prior study showing no statistical evidence of an increased rate of brain cancer in cell phone users, the authors state that “[t]he results really don’t allow us to conclude that there is any risk associated with mobile phone use but it is also premature to say that there is no risk associated with it.”
This is true. It is just about impossible to prove a negative. This has not stopped the authors of the recently released President’s Cancer Panel from arguing for a “precautionary principle” to regulation. Their precautionary principle would have cell phones outlawed until they could be proven safe. Specifically, the panel argues that cell phones should be banned until there is no risk of cancer associated with them. The obvious question, however, is how to prove that there is no risk. Study after study finds no association but cannot prove the negative, an absolutely risk free product. All the freedoms and advances in wireless technology would be banned until a 30-year long term study showed there would be no risk. By 2040, what other life-changing technologies would we have missed?
