A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization and is published today in the journal Environment International.
Mobile phones are often held against the head during use. And they emit radio waves, a type of non-ionising radiation. These two factors are largely why the idea mobile phones might cause brain cancer emerged in the first place.
The possibility that mobile phones might cause cancer has been a long-standing concern. Mobile phones – and wireless tech more broadly – are a major part of our daily lives. So it’s been vital for science to address the safety of radio wave exposure from these devices.
Despite the consensus, occasional research studies have been published that suggested the possibility of harm.
In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio wave exposure as a possible carcinogen to humans. The meaning of this classification was largely misunderstood and led to some increase in concern.
IARC is part of the World Health Organization. Its classification of radio waves as a possible carcinogen was largely based on limited evidence from human observational studies. Also known as epidemiological studies, they observe the rate of disease and how it may be caused in human populations.
Observational studies are the best tool researchers have to investigate long-term health effects in humans, but the results can often be biased.
The IARC classification relied on previous observational studies where people with brain cancer reported they used a mobile phone more than they actually did. One example of this is known as the INTERPHONE study.
This new systematic review of human observational studies is based on a much larger data set compared to what the IARC examined in 2011.
It includes more recent and more comprehensive studies. This means we can now be more confident that exposure to radio waves from mobile phones or wireless technologies is not associated with an increased risk of brain cancer.
The new review forms part of a series of systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization to look more closely at possible health effects associated with exposure to radio waves.
This systematic review provides the strongest evidence to date that radio waves from wireless technologies are not a hazard to human health.
It is the most comprehensive review on this topic – it considered more than 5,000 studies, of which 63, published between 1994 and 2022, were included in the final analysis. The main reason studies were excluded was that they were not actually relevant; this is very normal with search results from systematic reviews.
No association between mobile phone use and brain cancer, or any other head or neck cancer, was found.
There was also no association with cancer if a person used a mobile phone for ten or more years (prolonged use). How often they used it – either based on the number of calls or the time spent on the phone – also didn’t make a difference.
Importantly, these findings align with previous research. It shows that, although the use of wireless technologies has massively increased in the past few decades, there has been no rise in the incidence of brain cancers.
Overall, the results are very reassuring. They mean that our national and international safety limits are protective. Mobile phones emit low-level radio waves below these safety limits, and there is no evidence exposure to these has an impact on human health.
Despite this, it is important that research continues. Technology is developing at a rapid pace. With this development comes the use of radio waves in different ways using different frequencies. It is therefore essential that science continues to ensure radio wave exposure from these technologies remains safe.
The challenge we now face is making sure this new research counteracts the persistent misconceptions and misinformation out there regarding mobile phones and brain cancer.
There remains no evidence of any established health effects from exposures related to mobile phones, and that is a good thing.
What the Experts Say
The study was led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and involved a comprehensive review of more than 5,000 studies, ultimately including 63 in its final analysis. The researchers concluded that, despite the widespread use of mobile phones, there is no association between mobile phone use and brain cancer or other cancers of the head and neck.
Putting Past Concerns to Rest
The review directly contradicts the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, which had classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” This classification was largely based on limited evidence from human observational studies. However, the new review, which considered a much larger dataset of more recent and comprehensive studies, has provided much stronger evidence to confidently state that exposure to radio waves from wireless technology is not a human health hazard.
A Growing Body of Evidence
The new findings are consistent with previous research showing that brain cancer rates have remained stable despite the dramatic increase in mobile phone use. This evidence further strengthens the scientific consensus that there is no link between mobile phone use and brain cancer.
The Importance of Ongoing Research
Despite the reassuring results, it is crucial that research continues as technology evolves. New technologies and frequencies are constantly being developed, and it is essential that we remain vigilant in monitoring the safety of radio wave exposure from these technologies. The ongoing research will help to ensure that any potential health effects from exposure to radio waves are identified and addressed promptly.
Looking Ahead
This new review represents a significant step forward in understanding the potential health effects of radio wave exposure. It provides strong evidence that mobile phone use is not linked to brain cancer. The review also underscores the importance of ongoing research to ensure that our use of wireless technologies remains safe. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, it is essential that science remains a reliable source of information to guide our understanding and inform our decisions.
