An in-depth analysis of 63 scientific studies conducted over four years brings good news for mobile phone users. The research, commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), found no link between mobile phone use and the risk of brain cancer.
The study, published in the journal Environment International, was led by experts from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, with researchers from 10 countries participating. They analyzed research published between 1994 and 2022 from 22 countries.
"None of the major issues studied showed increased risks. For the main issue, mobile phones and brain cancers, we found no increased risk, even with exposure over 10 years and the highest categories of talk time or number of calls," said Professor Mark Elwood, co-author of the study and honorary professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland, as quoted by Sky News.
Researchers examined radio frequencies ranging from 300 Hz to 300 GHz, used for mobile phones, Wi-Fi, radars, and other applications. They looked at the risk of brain cancer, pituitary gland tumors, salivary gland tumors, as well as the risk of leukemia.
Furthermore, the study found no increased risk of leukemia or brain cancer in children due to radio or TV transmitters or mobile phone base stations.
Professor Elwood noted that most studies analyzed 1G and 2G networks, specifying that newer 3G and 4G networks have substantially lower radiofrequency emissions.
Regarding 5G networks, there are no major studies yet, but research on radars using similar high frequencies has not shown an increased risk of brain cancer.
The findings come at a time when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been attacks on 5G mobile phone towers in several countries, based on the unfounded belief that they contribute to the spread of the virus.
Professor Alberto Najera, a physicist and expert in radio frequencies and health at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, praised the "comprehensive systematic review," describing the conclusions as "robust" and "supported by quality studies."