Mobile phone users around the world can breathe a sigh of relief - your device won't give you cancer. At least, not according to a new comprehensive study by the World Health Organization on the potential health effects of exposure to radio waves emitted by the devices.
The review analyzed 63 studies from 22 different countries between 1994 and 2022 and found no link between cell phone use and head cancer, thus putting an end to an ongoing debate about the safety of cell phones.
The study looked at associations with six different types of cancer -- three types affecting the brain and cancer of the pituitary gland, salivary glands, and leukemia. The global team - led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency - also analyzed trends in brain cancer in recent decades, in relation to the increase in the use of mobile phones.
The findings are consistent with previous studies on the subject. The main implications of this study are that according to the best evidence available today, exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, such as those produced by mobile phones or telephone antennas, does not appear to significantly increase the risk of developing cancer.
