Phone cancer claims denied
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Mobile phones do not cause brain cancer, a major WHO-backed study confirms.
A comprehensive Australian-led review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that there is no association between mobile phone use and brain cancer.
The review, directed by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), evaluated over 5,000 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022, ultimately narrowing down the final analysis to 63 significant studies.
Despite the exponential rise in mobile phone usage over the past two decades, the review found no corresponding increase in the incidence of brain cancers.
This aligns with previous research by ARPANSA, indicating that radio wave exposure from wireless technology does not pose a health hazard.
A/Prof Ken Karipidis of ARPANSA, who led the review, says the study examined a much larger and more up-to-date dataset compared to previous assessments.
“When the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio wave exposure as a possible carcinogen to humans in 2011, it was largely based on limited evidence from human observational studies,” A/Prof Karipidis explained.
“This systematic review, which includes more recent and comprehensive studies, allows us to be more confident in the conclusion that exposure to radio waves from wireless technology is not a human health hazard.”
The review, co-authored by experts from 10 countries, examined various types of cancer, including brain cancers, pituitary gland tumours, salivary gland cancers, and leukaemias.
According to Professor Mark Elwood, an honorary Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Auckland and co-author of the study, none of the major questions studied indicated increased cancer risks.
This included scenarios involving long-term exposure to radio frequencies, occupational exposure, and even extensive use of older mobile networks like 1G and 2G.
“There were several studies that reported some increased risks, but these were outweighed when considering all the available evidence,” said Professor Elwood.
He further noted that while there have not yet been major studies on 5G networks, existing research on radar technology, which operates at similar high frequencies, has also shown no increased risk.
The findings of this review are expected to contribute significantly to the WHO's upcoming Environmental Health Criterion Monograph on the health effects of radio wave exposure.
The full article has been published in Environment International.