A review commissioned by the World Health Organization has provided the most definitive evidence to date, indicating that there is no association between mobile phones and brain cancer or other head and neck cancers.
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The WHO’s review is a contribution to the debate about mobile phone safety. The study was published in the journal Environment International. The research involved the analysis of 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022.
The study analyzed data from over 5,000 research papers, ultimately selecting 63 studies that met the stringent criteria for inclusion in the final analysis.
The research team included 11 experts from 10 different countries including representatives from Australia’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
The review focused on the effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation, which is emitted by mobile phones and other wireless devices such as televisions, baby monitors and radar systems.
The WHO’s review provided a clear and consistent message, mobile phone use does not increase the risk of developing brain cancer.
The findings were consistent across various types of cancer and the study covered a wide range of scenarios including long-term and frequent mobile phone use.
The study found no evidence to suggest that mobile phone use is associated with an increased risk of glioma, meningioma, pituitary tumors or pediatric brain tumors.
The review analyzed studies from different regions and time periods, yet none showed a link between mobile phone use and brain cancer. This consistency strengthens the credibility of the findings.
The study’s findings were reassuring for individuals who frequently make long phone calls or have been using mobile phones for over a decade, as no increased risk was observed in these groups.
The WHO review didn’t just look at brain cancer in isolation, it also examined the risk of other cancer types associated with mobile phone use.
Glioma is a type of malignant brain cancer that has been a particular focus of concern in past studies. The WHO review found no link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of glioma.
Meningiomas are typically benign tumors that form on the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The study found no evidence that mobile phone use contributes to the development of meningiomas.
The pituitary gland located at the base of the brain, controls many of the body’s hormonal functions. The study found no association between mobile phone use and the development of tumors in this gland.
Given the increasing use of mobile phones among children and adolescents, the risk of pediatric brain tumors has been a concern. However the WHO review found no evidence linking mobile phone use to an increased risk of brain tumors in children.
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Since mobile phones became ubiquitous, there has been concern about the health risks associated with their use. The fear has centered around the possibility that the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones could lead to brain cancer or other types of head and neck cancers.
In 2011, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio-frequency electromagnetic fields as a possible carcinogen.
This classification placed mobile phone radiation in the same category as substances like pickled vegetables and aloe vera.
The review found no evidence of an association between mobile phone use and brain cancer, even among those who have used mobile phones for more than a decade.
Despite the increase in mobile phone usage over the years, brain tumor rates have remained stable.
The review also found no correlation between the amount of time spent on mobile phones or the number of calls made and the incidence of brain or head cancers.
Radiation refers to energy that travels from one point to another. Mobile phones emit radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation, a type of non-ionizing radiation, which is different from ionizing radiation like that from X-rays or nuclear energy.
A source of public concern has been the misconception that all radiation is harmful. The term radiation often evokes fears of cancer and other severe health issues.
People are exposed to low levels of non-ionizing radiation daily from various sources including laptops, TV transmissions and mobile phone towers. The radiation from mobile phones, although higher due to their proximity to the head remains within safe exposure limits.
The review addressed studies that utilized strong methodologies, avoiding those that relied on self-reported data, which can be biased.
Early studies such as the INTERPHONE study relied heavily on self-reported data from brain cancer patients, who might have overestimated their mobile phone use. The new review excluded such studies to avoid the biases they introduced.
The study clarifies that the 2011 classification of mobile phones as a possible carcinogen should be understood in context. It placed mobile phone radiation in the same category as other agents with uncertain evidence such as working in a dry cleaners or eating pickled vegetables.
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