Mobile phones not linked to brain cancer, WHO review confirms

A recent review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found no evidence linking mobile phone use to an increased risk of brain cancer.

This comprehensive study, which evaluated research from around the globe, offers reassurance amid the growing concerns surrounding mobile phone and wireless technology use.

Despite the significant rise in mobile phone usage over the past few decades, the review found no corresponding increase in brain cancer incidence.

This finding holds true for both extensive mobile phone users and those who have been using them for more than a decade.

Published on Sep 3, the review analyzed 63 studies conducted from 1994 to 2022. This extensive research involved 11 researchers from 10 countries, including experts from Australia's radiation protection authority.

The review concentrated on the effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by mobile phones and other devices such as TVs, baby monitors, and radar systems.

Professor Mark Elwood, a co-author of the study and a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, noted, "None of the major questions studied showed increased risks."

The analysis explored various cancer types, including brain cancer in adults and children, as well as cancers of the pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukemia.

It also assessed risks related to mobile phone use, base stations, transmitters, and occupational exposure to radiofrequency radiation. A separate report will address other cancer types.

The findings of this review align with previous studies that have similarly found no definitive link between mobile phone use and cancer.

Both the WHO and other international health organizations have previously stated that there is no conclusive evidence of harmful health effects from mobile phone radiation.

However, they have recommended ongoing research to monitor potential risks.

Currently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies mobile phone radiation as "possibly carcinogenic" or Class 2B. This classification is used when there is insufficient evidence to entirely rule out a potential link.

Given the new data since the last assessment in 2011, the IARC advisory group has suggested that this classification be re-evaluated promptly.

The WHO is expected to release an updated evaluation in the first quarter of next year, which will provide further clarity on any potential health risks associated with mobile phone use.