A comprehensive systematic review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found no evidence linking cell phone use with an increased risk of brain cancer. The research, which assessed over 5,000 studies from 1994 to 2022, concluded that there is no association between radiofrequency exposure from cell phones and the incidence of brain cancer.
Current Classification and Controversy
Cell phones are currently classified as a “possible carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a designation made in 2011. This classification has sparked considerable debate and concern, despite the lack of conclusive evidence linking cell phone use to cancer. Recent scrutiny even led to a French regulatory body demanding that Apple halt sales of the iPhone 12 due to concerns over radiation levels exceeding European limits.
New Findings
Lead author Ken Karipidis, PhD, from Swinburne University of Technology and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, emphasized that this latest review is more extensive than previous analyses. “This systematic review, based on a much larger and more recent dataset, provides greater confidence that exposure to radio waves from wireless technology does not pose a human health hazard,” Dr. Karipidis said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Dr. Timothy Rebbeck, PhD, a professor of cancer prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who was not involved in the review, supports the findings. “It is clear at this point that cancer risks are not elevated from these exposures,” he stated.
Reasons for Concern and Review Findings
The primary concern regarding cell phones and cancer stems from their emission of non-ionizing radiation, which is much lower in energy compared to ionizing radiation from sources like X-rays. While ionizing radiation is known to cause DNA damage and increase cancer risk, experts believe that the energy from cell phones is insufficient to cause such damage.
The review analyzed data from 63 studies and found no link between long-term cell phone use (more than 10 years) and brain cancer. Additionally, the amount of phone use, whether measured by the number of calls or the duration of use, did not correlate with increased brain cancer risk.
Given the exponential increase in mobile phone usage over the decades, researchers expected to see a rise in brain cancer rates if a significant link existed. However, brain cancer rates have remained stable or even declined, with a 1.2% annual decrease in new cases in the U.S. from 2012 to 2021.
5G Technology and Future Reviews
The study did not include data on 5G technology, as it is a recent development. However, Dr. Karipidis believes that the findings are still applicable. “The technology behind 5G is essentially an evolution of earlier generations and does not introduce fundamentally different types of radio waves,” he explained.
The review may prompt the IARC to reconsider the classification of cell phones as a possible carcinogen. Dr. Karipidis suggested that there might be enough evidence to re-evaluate this classification, noting that the label of “possible carcinogen” does not necessarily imply a strong risk, citing examples like aloe vera, which is also classified as a possible carcinogen.
In summary, the new systematic review reinforces the view that cell phone use does not significantly increase brain cancer risk, providing reassurance based on a large and comprehensive body of evidence.
