In a world where nearly everyone has a mobile phone glued to their hand, concerns about the potential health risks of wireless communication technologies have been swirling for years. However, the latest global review of data commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered a clear message: there is no proven link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer.
Despite the rapid rise in wireless technology use over the past few decades, the WHO report found no corresponding increase in the incidence of brain cancer. This holds true even for individuals who spend hours on their phones daily or have been using mobile devices for more than ten years. The analysis spanned 63 studies conducted from 1994 to 2022, involving 11 researchers from 10 countries, with the Australian Radiation Protection Authority lending its expertise.
The review specifically looked at the impact of radio frequencies used in mobile phones, TVs, baby monitors, and radars on the human body. Across all these devices, no increased risks were identified. The study covered a range of cancers, including brain cancers in both adults and children, as well as pituitary and salivary gland cancers, leukemia, and potential risks linked to mobile phones, base stations, and professional exposure to radio frequencies. Separate findings on other types of cancers will be presented in future reports.
For years, both the WHO and other global health organizations have maintained that there is no concrete evidence to suggest mobile phone radiation causes adverse health effects. Still, they have encouraged ongoing research into the long-term effects of these technologies. Currently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies radiation from phones as “possibly carcinogenic” in group 2B—a category used when a potential risk cannot be entirely ruled out.
The last major review by the WHO on this topic was published in 2011. Now, with this fresh analysis in hand, the WHO advisory group is calling for a re-evaluation of that classification to reflect the latest data. An official statement and findings are expected to be published by the first quarter of 2025.
For now, it seems that mobile phone users can breathe a sigh of relief, though health experts agree that continued research is essential in an ever-evolving tech landscape.
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