A large WHO-backed study revives the cell phone and cancer risk conversation
Cell phones emitting low levels of nonionizing radio waves, and have been causing cancer-related conversations almost as fast as they were becoming extensions of our hands. In 2011, based on the limited information available at the time, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio-frequency radiation emitted by cell phones as potentially carcinogenic. It was not a definitive statement, but a request for further research to determine whether the radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) from mobile phones can increase cancer risk. In recent years, there has been a consensus among different research groups that, while it is difficult to say for sure that technology or cell phone use are not linked to cancer, given their relative youth and the caution needed to draw conclusions from scientific research, there is no credible evidence that phones have any health effects on humans. This includes cancer. This week, a systematic review of 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022 by WHO made an even more detailed conclusion. It found that the radio-frequency radiation from cell phones is unlikely to increase brain cancer risk. “If we are talking about these serious health concerns, then I believe we have the answer,” said Dr. Timothy Rebbeck. He is a professor of cancer prevention and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and professor of medical cancer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. And according to Rebbeck, though there’s less research on newer technologies such as Bluetooth devices than there is on cell phones, the fact that they’re all emitting low amounts of the same type of generally harmless radiation should put tech users at ease.
Revisiting the phones-and-cancer conversation might feel like a moot point for some tech aficionados, but the limitations of smaller and earlier studies; the nature of how cancer occurs (it often takes many years for tumors to develop); and the way we’ve grown to become completely dependent on cell phones has made it difficult to firmly rule out long-term health risks from cell phones, or consumer tech in general. We’re not only using our cell phones anymore, but we also wear technology as smart watches and rings, sleep with them, and even depend on them to tell us to stand up and stretch. As our dependence on consumer technologies grows, we should expect research to continue exploring whether they are safe for us. From brain cancer to sperm count, here’s what we know today about research on cell phones, radiation, Bluetooth and health.
According to the Pew Research Center, 97% of US adults own a cell phone. Nine out of 10 Americans own smartphones, up from just 35% in 2011.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
What cell phones emit: Nonionizing radiation vs. ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is the type of radiation found in nuclear power. Radiation therapy and medical diagnostics, such as CT (computed-tomography) and X rays, use it to varying degrees. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are exposed to low-level radiations every day. This includes in nature. However, exposure to ionizing radiation is cause for concern, as it’s able to penetrate the body’s cells effectively and — in large doses — has been found to pose health risks in humans because it can damage DNA.
The technologies with which we’ve developed up-close-and-personal relationships, including cell phones, emit low levels of
nonionizing radio-frequency radiation, which can’t effectively alter cells the way ionizing radiation can. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, ionizing radiation carries more than a billion times more energy than nonionizing radiation.
Equipment that transmits radio-frequency radiation has to meet exposure limitations set by the US Federal Communications Commission, and wearable devices emit very low levels of nonionizing radiation. Radio-frequency radiation can also be found in everyday items such as light bulbs, GPS devices, and microwaves. Rebbeck says that we shouldn’t be concerned about cell phones or nonionizing radio waves, “biologically”. “It is radiation, but not the type of radiation that causes cancer,” Rebbeck said. The only place where nonionizing radio waves are known to cause cancer, is in the sun. Rebbeck stated that the concern about cancer caused by cell phones is due to findings that technology can generate heat. This heat can cause tissue and cells to be affected in a similar way as a sunburn, or an accident while cooking. He said that the way in which people use their devices should reduce this risk. This makes it largely irrelevant for human exposures. You wouldn’t hold a device that is too hot up against your skin.
But, for those who are concerned about RF EMFs, relying on Bluetooth devices instead of a cell phone may be the best option. The National Cancer Institute has concluded that Bluetooth devices such as earbuds or headphones emit radio-frequency waves with powers that are 10 to 400 times less powerful than cell phones. “If you use a Bluetooth device, and hold it at least a foot from you, you are not exposed to any radiation,” Rebbeck explained.
Sperm counts, fertility, and other cell phone questions.
Medical experts suggest that men trying to conceive should avoid using hot laptops or other warm objects because they can affect healthy sperm production. The impact of cell phones on sperm count and quality has been a subject of discussion for many years. Researchers also called for rigorous studies.
Reproductive Health is a medical field that has received little attention. Scientists are only beginning to understand how environmental factors can affect hormones and other factors affecting reproductive health. These include pollution, food additives, everyday product scents, and many more. Cancer risk bottom line:
Aside from cell phone use, lifestyle and health factors are associated with a cancer risk. Rebbeck says that the cancer risks we need to be most concerned with are smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating highly processed foods. Rebbeck stated that there are many things you can do to change your cancer risk.
