End the myth: there is no link between cell phone use and brain tumors

The controversy began 10 years ago, when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified cell phones as “possible carcinogenic elements”. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that “until now no known side effects in health “.

To resolve this situation, an investigation by the University of Oxford and the IARC determined that the use of mobile phones does not increase the risk of having a brain tumor. Thus, this study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute puts an end to two decades of speculation and fear of this misconception.

For the study, researchers used data from the UK Million Women Study, a breast cancer research project with a large database, with information on one in four women born between 1935 and 1950.

After following 776,156 women for fifteen years, the authors discovered that Only 0.42% of participants had a brain tumora similar percentage of risk to users who use a mobile phone and to those who have never had the device.

Investigators reported no significant difference in the risk of glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, or other tumors thought to be associated with wireless device use.

“We have strong and convincing evidence that normal mobile phone use does not cause cancer-related problems,” paper co-author and IARC member Joachim Schüz told inews.

Does time of cell phone use influence cancer risk?

Whether time of mobile use influences cancer risk or not, the researchers have not made a clear conclusion.

only the 18% of participants he claims he speaks more than half an hour a week, so it’s impossible to make any concrete conclusions about the risk for people who use it longer.

The main conclusion of the research is that the use of mobile phones in these conditions normal does not increase the risk of brain tumors.

Many of the electronic devices in use today emit small amounts of electromagnetic waves. From microwaves, computers or televisions, to mobile phones.

The fact is that these radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by wireless devices penetrate a few centimeters in the head when someone is talking on the phone.

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, however, it is not harmful to health. The main effect of this phenomenon is the superficial heating of the skin.

In this sense, the new research has not seen any increase in the risk of tumors in the areas possibly most exposed to these electromagnetic fields.

Moreover, the tumors detected were evenly distributed on the left and right side, despite the majority of mobile phone use being on the right hand.

The latest generation of smartphones, less harmful than the old ones

The authors highlight in their research that the emissions of current devices are “substantially lower” than previous generation devices. Current 3G, 4G or 5G technology lowers the radiation of devices even more than its predecessors.

“These results support the growing evidence that mobile phone use under normal conditions does not increase the risk of brain tumors,” said Kirstin Pirie of the University of Oxford.

With information from La Vanguardia.

SL