In a major development for public health and technology, a sweeping review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that there is no significant link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer. This review, the most extensive of its kind to date, analyzes data from over two decades of research and aims to address longstanding concerns about the health effects of mobile phone radiation.
The study, led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Arpansa), scrutinized 63 observational studies published between 1994 and 2022. The review was conducted by an international team, including experts from the Australian government's radiation protection authority, and assessed the impact of radiofrequency radiation used in mobile phones, as well as other sources like TV and radar.
Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, Arpansa's health impact assessment assistant director and lead author of the review, emphasized that the evidence does not support a connection between mobile phone use and brain or head cancers. "We concluded that the evidence does not show a link between mobile phones and brain cancer or other head and neck cancers," Karipidis stated.
This comprehensive analysis comes amidst a backdrop of evolving scientific understanding and public concern. Despite the exponential rise in mobile phone usage over the past decades, brain cancer rates have remained stable, a key point highlighted by Karipidis. "Even though mobile phone use has skyrocketed, brain tumour rates have remained stable," he said.
The review encompassed a wide range of cancer types, including cancers of the brain, pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukemia, as well as potential risks associated with prolonged mobile phone use. The findings revealed no overall association between mobile phone use and these cancer types, regardless of the duration or intensity of phone use.
The review addresses previous concerns that were sparked by early studies and the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) 2011 classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic." This classification, which placed radiofrequency fields in the same category as substances like aloe vera and pickled vegetables, was based on limited evidence and has since been scrutinized in light of new research.
Mark Elwood, a professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland and a co-author of the review, supported the study's conclusions, stating, "None of the major questions studied showed increased risks." He underscored that the review's results align with a broader consensus that mobile phone radiation, classified as class 2B by IARC, does not currently warrant further concern.
The study's findings are bolstered by its rigorous methodology, which involved excluding weaker studies and focusing on the most scientifically robust evidence. Karipidis noted that many previous concerns about mobile phone radiation stemmed from misunderstandings about the nature of radiation. "Radiation is basically energy that travels from one point to another," he explained. "There are many different types, for example, ultraviolet radiation from the sun."
Despite these reassurances, the review acknowledges that ongoing research is essential. As technology continues to evolve, Karipidis and his team are already working on the next phase of the study, which will investigate other less commonly associated cancers, such as leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Professor Tim Driscoll from the University of Sydney, who chairs the Australian Cancer Council's occupational and environmental cancers committee, praised the review's robust methodology and independent stance. "I think people should feel reassured by this study," Driscoll said, although he noted that no study is entirely perfect.
