Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A recent study commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found no link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer. This comprehensive review of worldwide evidence suggests that despite the widespread use of wireless technology, there has been no corresponding rise in brain cancer cases.
The review, published on Tuesday, analyzed data from 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022. The assessment, carried out by 11 researchers from 10 countries, including Australia’s radiation protection authority, aimed to examine the potential health impacts of radiofrequency radiation used in mobile phones, as well as other devices like TVs, baby monitors, and radar.
Mark Elwood, a co-author of the study and professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, highlighted the key findings. “None of the major questions studied showed increased risks,” Elwood stated. The research evaluated risks related to various types of cancer, including brain cancers in adults and children, as well as cancers of the pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukemia. It also explored the effects of mobile phone usage, proximity to base stations and transmitters, and occupational exposure to radiofrequency radiation. Additional studies on other cancer types are expected to be released separately.
This review aligns with previous findings from WHO and other international health organizations, which have consistently stated that there is no definitive evidence linking mobile phone radiation to adverse health effects. However, due to the lack of conclusive data, mobile phone radiation is currently classified as “possibly carcinogenic,” or class 2B, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This classification is used when a potential link cannot be entirely ruled out.
Given the new data since its last assessment in 2011, the IARC’s advisory group has recommended re-evaluating this classification as soon as possible. WHO’s updated evaluation of the health effects of mobile phone radiation is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year.
