What it’s about
A ground-breaking review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found no connection between the usage of mobile phones and an increased risk of brain cancer. This discovery comes after extensive research spanning several decades.
Why it matters
Given the ubiquity of wireless technology, particularly mobile phones, concerns regarding potential health risks have been widespread. This review reassures the global community that increased mobile phone usage has not resulted in a corresponding surge in brain cancer cases.
Details
The Analysis
The comprehensive review included 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022, evaluated by 11 experts from 10 countries. The Australian government’s radiation protection authority also contributed to this exhaustive analysis. The report affirms that even prolonged usage of mobile phones does not correlate with heightened brain cancer risks.
Insights from the Experts
Mark Elwood, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, emphasized that “none of the major questions studied showed increased risks.” The study examined various types of brain and gland cancers, analyzing risks associated with mobile phone use, base stations, transmitters, and occupational exposure.
Consistency with Previous Reports
This latest study aligns with earlier reports by WHO and other health organizations, which have consistently found no definitive evidence indicating adverse health effects from mobile phone radiation. Mobile phone radiation remains classified as “possibly carcinogenic” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a Category 2B classification that signifies inconclusive evidence of harm.
What’s Next
The advisory group attached to IARC has recommended a re-evaluation of the classification, given the sheer volume of new data obtained since IARC’s last assessment in 2011. WHO’s detailed evaluation is scheduled for release in the first quarter of the coming year, promising to provide further clarity on this critical subject.
This story was first published on jpost.com.