When I read such reports I try to assume the worst is true, in this example that cell phone towers do in fact cause increased rates of cancer, however minuscule. Then I ask, is this a cost that we as a society are willing to bear for value add of the thing in question. In this case, I think the increase in cancer rates would have to be astronomically high for us to say that's too dangerous.

Yes and no. If it turned out the evidence is really obvious, it actually might spur new developments without the problems of the older technology.