WHO dismisses report of link between smartphone use and brain cancer

WHO dismisses report of link between smartphone use and brain cancer

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) analysis has found no link between smartphone use and brain cancer. Concerns over radiation from mobile devices have persisted for decades, and in 2011, the WHO’s cancer division classified this radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

However, a new study based on several research papers dating back to 1994 found no connection between cellphone usage and cancer, even among heavy users who make frequent calls. The study concluded that the incidence of brain cancers has not increased in correlation with increased mobile phone use.

The research team of eleven specialists from ten countries, including the Australian government’s radiation protection authority, reviewed 63 studies from 1994 to 2022. They examined possible links between exposure to radio waves from wireless technology — such as televisions, baby monitors, and cellphones — and various cancers, including brain and salivary gland tumours and leukaemia.

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The study found that despite the skyrocketing use of wireless technology, the occurrence of cancers has not increased to a corresponding degree. This finding holds true even for individuals who have been using mobile phones for over a decade or frequently engage in lengthy phone conversations.

Mark Elwood, a professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and a co-author of the study, stated that none of the key research questions indicated elevated risks.

This review aligns with other similar studies. The WHO and other international health organizations have previously stated that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that mobile phone radiation poses a health risk. However, they have encouraged further research.

WHO dismisses report of link between smartphone use and brain cancer