Do mobile phones cause cancer? New WHO study uncovers if devices can lead to incurable disease
A cancer diagnosis can be hard to deal with, both for the person and their loved ones. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Scotland, with the disease accounting for over 16,000 deaths in 2021, according to Public Health Scotland.
There are many lifestyle factors that can up our chances of getting sick. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being overweight or obese are some of them. But what about using our mobile phones?
There has long been a narrative around whether being on the blower can have a damaging affect on our health. Now, a World Health Organization (WHO)-commissioned systematic review has found no association between radio wave exposure and various cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, thyroid and oral cavity cancers.
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However, compared to a previous study done on mobile phones' relation to brain cancer - which found no link - researchers admit they "can't be as certain of these results" pertaining to the four cancers mentioned above.
This is because there is not as much evidence on the association between these cancers and exposure to radio waves from wireless technology.
"We considered all other cancers, but we could only properly assess the association between radio waves and leukaemia, lymphoma, thyroid and oral cavity cancers," A/Prof Karipidis said.
"While this systematic review did not find an association between radio wave exposure and these cancers... we can't be as certain of these results compared to the previous systematic review on brain cancers.
"Other cancers have not been researched as extensively over as long a period, and the results have not been replicated by scientists in as many papers compared to studies on brain cancers and mobile phones."
This is the second WHO-commissioned systematic review he has led which has looked at the association between mobile phones and cancer.
The first systematic review, published last year, looked at the association between mobile phones and brain and other head cancers and found no link.
"Occasionally we get questions from the public about the association between wireless technology and cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma," ARPANSA research scientist Rohan Mate, who contributed to this study, said.
"It's great that we now have this comprehensive review to add to the body of knowledge to inform the public about wireless technology and cancer."
The WHO is currently preparing an updated assessment on the health effects from radio wave exposure.
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