The WHO released on Tuesday (3) the results of an analysis of studies on the possible link between head cancers and cell phone use. The research, commissioned by the Australian radiation protection agency, concluded that the use of the devices does not contribute to the emergence of tumors in the region. Studies from 1994 to 2022 were evaluated for the review.
The Australian Radiation Protection Agency (ARPANSA) review process involved first evaluating more than 5,000 studies and removing those that used weak methodologies. Among the studies that were eliminated were the first on the subject, carried out in the 1990s, when cell phones were just becoming popular in richer countries.
In the end, 63 studies were evaluated. The review team was made up of 11 researchers from 10 countries, led by the Australian agency, represented by Ken Karipidis, the agency’s director of health care. The University of Auckland, New Zealand, also participated in the studies.
Review confirms more recent studies
The results of this review confirm studies published in recent years. Arpansa has also published on other occasions, including in the scientific journal British Medical Journal, that cell phone use does not increase the risk of brain tumors.
The term “head tumors” refers to cancers in the brain, glands, meninges, ears and other parts of the region, including the neck. Since cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation, popularly known as radio waves, when we make a call, this entire part of the brain is receiving these waves — but, as the study proves, without any damage.
Every day we are exposed to different types of radiation (such as UV radiation from the Sun), mainly radio waves. Even though cell phones emit a small amount of this radiation, we are more affected by it due to regular contact and proximity to the devices.
Researcher highlights flaws in past studies
For Ken Karipidis, this review is the main evidence on the subject. When cell phones started to gain traction, back in the 1990s, studies separated the research population into two groups: cancer patients and people without cancer.
According to Karipidis, these early studies were biased. He points out that people without cancer provided accurate information, but cancer patients tended to overreport their radiation exposure. These studies may have contributed to the urban legend that cell phones cause cancer.
“Even though cellphone use has skyrocketed, brain tumor rates have remained flat,” Karipidis said.
In the Arpansa study released in 2018, the agency highlighted that the increased cases of glioblastoma, a brain tumor, would be linked to an improvement in the diagnosis of the disease.
In 2011, the WHO considered radio waves to be possibly carcinogenic. Karipidis explained that the organization’s classification is broader, placing in the “possible” category factors about which there is uncertainty. Aloe vera and pickled vegetables are also possibly carcinogenic.
Karipidis said that concerns about using a cell phone and getting cancer should be forgotten. However, the researcher points out that this research cannot stop, since technology is constantly evolving.
With information: The Guardian and The Verge.
