New Study Shows Mobile Phone Use Does Not Elevate Brain Cancer Risk

Is mobile usage linked to higher rates of cancer? A comprehensive review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found no increase in cancer cases despite the significant rise in wireless technology usage over the past two decades. The study, led by experts from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, included researchers from ten different countries.

The review examined research on radio frequencies ranging from 300 Hz to 300 GHz, which are used in mobile phones, Wi-Fi, radar, baby monitors, and other applications. Professor Mark Elwood, an honorary professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland and co-author of the review, stated that they investigated cancers of the brain, pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukaemias.

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Mobile Phones and Cancer Risk

"None of the major questions studied showed increased risks," said Professor Elwood. "For the main issue, mobile phones and brain cancers, we found no increased risk, even with 10+ years exposure and the maximum categories of call time or number of calls."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were baseless theories linking 5G mobile phone masts to the virus. This led to attacks on these masts in the UK and other places. The research review considered 63 relevant articles published between 1994 and 2022 from 22 countries.

Studies on Radio Frequencies

Professor Elwood noted that most phone use in these studies was from earlier years involving 1G-2G networks. These older networks have higher RF emissions compared to newer 3G-4G networks. "There were several studies that reported some increased risks," he said, "but these were outweighed when considering all available evidence."

The authors also found no increased risk of leukaemia or brain cancers in children from radio or TV transmitters or mobile phone base stations. When it comes to 5G mobile networks, Professor Elwood mentioned that there are no major studies yet. However, studies on radar—which uses similar high frequencies—did not show an increased brain cancer risk.

Expert Opinions

Professor Alberto Najera from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain praised the review as an "exhaustive systematic review." He described its conclusions as "robust" and "supported by quality studies." He added that according to current evidence, exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields does not appear to significantly increase cancer risk.

The findings are published in Environment International journal and took four years to complete. The risk concerning other types of cancer will be reported separately.

"For mobile phones and brain cancers," reiterated Professor Elwood, "there were studies with 10 or more years' use and quite extensive use." He emphasized that most phone use in these studies involved older network generations with higher RF emissions than current technologies.

The review's thorough examination included various sources of radio frequencies such as mobile phones and base stations. Despite some studies indicating potential risks, a comprehensive analysis showed no significant increase in cancer cases related to these technologies.

This extensive study provides reassurance about the safety of wireless technology concerning cancer risks. It highlights that even with prolonged exposure over many years, there is no substantial evidence linking radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to an increased risk of developing cancer.