Latest research shows that mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer

Led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Arpansa), a team of leading scientists reviewed more than 5,000 studies, identifying the most scientifically rigorous ones and eliminating the weakest ones.

In order to find the most reliable evidence of a link between mobile phone use and brain cancer, researchers relied on rigorous scientific criteria such as study design, sample size and data analysis methods.

Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, lead author of the study, said this was the most comprehensive review to date on the link between mobile phones and cancer, based on an analysis of 63 of the highest quality observational studies in humans published between 1994 and 2022.

“Our research results confirm that there is no scientific evidence to prove that mobile phones cause brain cancer or other cancers of the head and neck,” Associate Professor Ken Karipidis added.

Published on September 3, the study provides insight into cancers that affect the central nervous system, including the brain, meninges, pituitary gland, ear and related structures such as salivary gland tumors and brain tumors.

The study found no overall link between exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cell phones and cancer rates, regardless of exposure time or signal strength.

“I have full confidence in our results,” said Associate Professor Ken Karipidis. “The fact that brain cancer rates have remained stable while mobile phone use has increased dramatically is compelling evidence that there is no link between the two.”

Along with other wireless devices such as laptops, radios, and mobile base stations, mobile phones also use radio waves to transmit information. These waves are very common in our daily lives.

Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, who is also Vice-Chair of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, clarified the difference between non-ionizing radiation (such as from mobile phones) and ionizing radiation (such as X-rays). He stressed that the public needs to better understand these differences to avoid unnecessary concerns.

Associate Professor Karipidis addressed common concerns people have about using mobile phones close to their heads. He explained that radiation is simply transmitted energy and comes in many forms, such as ultraviolet rays from the sun. However, he also stressed that low-level radio waves, such as those emitted by mobile phones, are all around us in our daily lives.

Although exposure levels from cell phones are still low, they are still much higher than exposure levels from any other source of wireless technology because phones are used close to the head, Mr. Karipidis said.

Concerns about a link between cell phones and cancer stem from early studies, in which scientists compared the cell phone habits of brain cancer patients with a healthy control group to look for differences.

However, Karipidis points out that these studies are often inaccurate because patients, due to psychological anxiety, often report more mobile phone use than they actually do, leading to skewed research results. This shows that this type of research has a major limitation.

Early studies suggested a possible link to brain cancer from using mobile phones on the head for long hours, prompting the WHO to sound the alarm and classify radiofrequency radiation from mobile phones as a possible carcinogen.

Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has raised concerns about radiofrequency radiation being classified as a possible carcinogen, Associate Professor Karipidis says the classification doesn't make much sense.

IARC has developed a detailed classification system to assess the carcinogenic risk of different factors. Accordingly, factors can be classified into groups such as “definitely” carcinogenic (e.g. tobacco), “probably” carcinogenic or “possible” carcinogenic. This classification helps us better understand the relationship between those factors and cancer risk, thereby allowing us to develop appropriate preventive measures.

When it classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly” carcinogenic in 2011, the WHO placed them on par with hundreds of other agents for which the evidence of harm remains uncertain, such as aloe vera, pickled vegetables, and working in dry cleaners.

The IARC’s decision to classify radiofrequency radiation as a possible carcinogen has caused controversy in the scientific community. Australian neurosurgeon Charlie Teo is one of those who has spoken out strongly against it, arguing that more evidence is needed to conclusively establish a link between mobile phones and cancer.

Since IARC issued its initial classification, the scientific community has been working tirelessly to clarify the link between radio waves and health. Systematic cohort studies, which do not rely on participants recalling their own past exposure, have provided important data. In 2019, WHO officially commissioned these studies, marking a major step forward in the search for definitive and comprehensive answers.

A comprehensive review commissioned by the WHO has looked closely at the link between radio waves and male fertility. The study concluded that there is no reliable scientific evidence that mobile phone use causes a reduction in sperm count, allaying public concerns about the issue.

In addition, another study commissioned by the WHO found that in very rare cases where exposure to radio waves exceeded established safety limits, there could be some impact on birth weight in women. However, Mr Karipidis stressed that these cases occurred only under very special conditions and were not the general rule. Further research is needed to draw more definitive conclusions.

Professor Tim Driscoll, a leading expert in occupational and environmental cancer at the University of Sydney (Australia) and also Chairman of the Occupational and Environmental Cancer Committee of Cancer Council Australia, praised the rigorous scientific methodology of this new study. He affirmed that the researchers had carried out an independent and reliable work.

“The results of this study provide reassuring information for users,” said Professor Driscoll. “While no study is perfect, the current evidence suggests that mobile phone use does not pose a significant risk of cancer.”

Currently, Associate Professor Karipidis and his colleagues are expanding the scope of their research to further investigate the relationship between electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones and less common cancers such as leukemia, with the aim of clarifying potential connections.

Lead author Karipidis of the study asserted that, given the growing public concerns about the link between cancer and mobile phones, further research is needed. In the context of rapid technological development, monitoring and assessing the impact of electromagnetic waves on health is an urgent task.