Complex systems exhibit all sorts of interesting emergent behaviours. Many things in living systems, like the way proteins fold, can be incredibly intricate. There are thousands of complex chemical pathways that need to work in synchronicity. We don't even fully understand all the factors influencing the appearance of cancers, many new exciting discoveries are still being made. Even things like resonance in certain circumstances could bridge some of the gap in power levels discussed.<p>It is the height of hubris to suggest there was never even any point in checking if mobile phones could cause cancer. Those studies were not a waste; science is full of surprises and empirical evidence is still the loudest voice science has.
Looks like ionization is not the only criteria for health impact. See "DNA is a fractal antenna in electromagnetic fields"<p>and the conclusion: "The wide frequency range of interaction with EMF is the functional characteristic of a fractal antenna, and DNA appears to possess the two structural characteristics of fractal antennas, electronic conduction and self symmetry. These properties contribute to greater reactivity of DNA with EMF in the environment, and the DNA damage could account for increases in cancer epidemiology, as well as variations in the rate of chemical evolution in early geologic history"<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457072" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457072</a>
the cellphone causing cancer theory has nothing to do with ionizing vs. non-ionizing radiation. it has to do with the fact that cell phones are shown to alter brain activity in the area localized to where the phone is physically placed: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184892/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184892/</a> (nyt background story: <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/cellphone-use-tied-to-changes-in-brain-activity/" rel="nofollow">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/cellphone-use-tied-...</a>)
"For instance, a Danish study followed 420,000 people over 20 years and found no link between cancer and mobile phone use "- Studied Mobile phone use for over 20 Years!?