Not only did the study find no overall association between cell phone use and cancer, it also ruled out any risk associated with prolonged and frequent use. (Getty Images)
A recent review commissioned by the WHO concluded that there is no clear link between mobile phone use and brain, head or neck cancer.
The perceived risk of cancer from electromagnetic radiation has been a key aspect of public awareness about cancer for decades. From the oft-repeated story of the famous scientist Marie Curie, who died due to radiation poisoning from the very radium she had discovered, to the more fantastical depictions of mutated humans and animals in Hollywood movies, the connection has become deeply ingrained in all of us. Dr. (Prof.) Ishwar Chandra Premsagar, Head of Neurology and Spine, Oncology Services, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC), shares how mobile phones and radiation are linked to cancer.
The explosion of mobile phones and wireless technology over the past two decades has raised many questions about this. On the one hand, we had the ubiquitous mobile, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals that penetrated concrete walls but were supposedly safe for humans. On the other hand, every mobile we owned had prominently declared SAR (specific absorption rate) levels, a measure of the power absorbed by our tissues when exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, which seems to suggest that higher levels may have an adverse impact on our health. People often wondered what was actually safe or unsafe, and this gave rise to many myths and urban legends.
A recent WHO-commissioned study has concluded that there is no clear link between mobile phone use and brain, head or neck cancer. Does this new study by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, which reviewed more than 5,000 studies on the topic, mean that all is well and that there is no danger?
There are three important aspects that the average user needs to understand:
Firstly, there have also been numerous studies in the past. The most important of these were those by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in 2011, after which it classified electromagnetic and radiofrequency fields as possibly carcinogenic. The latest WHO study calls into question that IARC warning and speculates on the possibility that participant bias may have influenced those findings.
Secondly, there are a huge number of technical differences between different types of radiation that we don't fully understand. For example, cell phone radiation is non-ionizing, meaning it simply isn't powerful enough to disrupt you at the atomic level (by knocking out electrons). The SAR levels we discussed above are also a measure of this non-ionizing radiation, which, while less threatening, is still highly regulated. Ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, is the real cancer threat, and it's not emitted by our mobile devices.
Thirdly, the WHO study focused on a small group of brain cancer cases (including those in the neck area). While this may have been ruled out for now, the other effects of prolonged mobile phone use, such as stress, reduced attention span, tendencies towards social isolation and adverse effects on eyesight, are real and present dangers that should not be forgotten.
Health impacts
- Brain tumorsResearch has not definitively linked cell phone use to brain tumors. However, the potential risk remains under study.
- Cognitive effectsLong-term use of mobile phones may affect cognitive functions such as memory and learning. There are concerns about how electromagnetic radiation could affect brain activity.
- Behavioral problemsExcessive use of mobile phones can lead to behavioural problems, especially in younger users. Giving up the phone can lead to frustration or aggression.
What should you do?
Be careful when using mobile phones. It is advisable to limit prolonged exposure and opt for hands-free options until further research clarifies the potential risks. Although the latest research might suggest it is safe, moderating device use to what is necessary and avoiding excessive use can help prevent potential side effects and addiction.
