A recent comprehensive review of human observational studies found no strong evidence linking radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile phones and other sources to an increased risk of developing cancer, particularly in the brain. The study assessed 63 articles, spanning from 1994 to 2022, focusing on cancers such as glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and childhood leukemia.
The review included studies investigating RF-EMF exposure from mobile and cordless phones, occupational sources, and fixed-site transmitters like broadcasting antennas. For mobile phone use, there was no significant increase in the risk of critical brain tumours or salivary gland tumours. The findings were consistent across various measures, including cumulative call time and years of phone use. Similarly, no increased cancer risks were found from exposure to cordless phones or environmental RF-EMF from fixed-site transmitters.
The research used advanced meta-analysis techniques and graded the evidence’s certainty. For mobile phone-related cancers, there was moderate certainty that the exposure is unlikely to cause brain tumours in adults or children. However, evidence for occupational exposure and environmental RF-EMF exposure in children was less certain due to a lack of studies.
The study concludes that RF-EMF exposure, particularly from mobile phones, likely does not increase cancer risk, but calls for caution in interpreting results related to occupational and childhood exposures due to limited data.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Karipidis K et al. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies – Part I: Most researched outcomes. Environmental International. 2024;191:108983.
