Ronald B. Herberman

Ronald B. Herberman is the current director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.¹ In late July 2008, Herberman sent a memo to his employees telling them that they should limit their cell phone use so as to reduce their risk of contracting cancer.²

Fast Facts

1. Occupation: Immunologist
2. Position: Director, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
3. Memo about cancer risks of using cell phones sent to 3,000 staff members²
4. Told staff children should only use cell phones in "emergency" situations²
5. Told staff to use speakerphones or wireless headsets²
6. Advice contradicts other studies which concluded there was little health risk from cell phone use²
7. The World Health Organization believes that mobile phone use "is unlikely to induce or promote cancers."³
8. A Swedish study concluded in 2006 that frequent cell phone use may increase risk of developing a brain tumor⁴

The Herberman Memo

Herberman's memo, which he distributed to over 3,000 staff members, warned his staff to especially limit cell phone use by children. Because a child's brain is still developing, Herberman singled them out for special concern. However, he also told his staff to keep their phones away from their heads and to avoid using the devices on public transportation for fear of exposing others to the device's electromagnetic fields. Herberman, who is an immunology expert, based his concern on early, unpublished studies. Some previous studies have concluded that the risk of cell phone use causing cancer was small to non-existent.²

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