The question of whether mobile phones can cause brain tumours has fueled debate and anxiety for decades. With billions of people worldwide holding phones close to their heads every day, it’s important to examine what the science actually says.
The Central Issue: Radiation Exposure
Mobile phones emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation — a type of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation. Unlike ionising radiation (such as X-rays and gamma rays), RF radiation does not have enough energy to damage DNA directly or cause mutations. Its primary biological effect is mild tissue heating, far below the levels used in devices like microwave ovens.
What Major Studies Reveal: Reassuring Findings
Over the years, several large-scale studies have explored the possible link between mobile phone use and brain tumours. The results have been largely reassuring:
- Interphone Study (2010): Conducted across 13 countries and coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this major study found no overall increased risk of glioma or meningioma — two common types of brain tumours — among regular mobile phone users. While it suggested a slightly increased risk among the heaviest users (top 10%), limitations such as recall bias and selection bias made those findings uncertain.
- Danish Cohort Study: One of the longest-running studies, it followed over 350,000 mobile phone subscribers for decades. The results showed no increased incidence of brain tumours, suggesting that long-term mobile phone use is not linked to higher cancer risk.
- UK Million Women Study (2022): Tracking more than 700,000 women, this study found no association between regular mobile phone use and glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, or eye tumours.
The consensus across major scientific bodies is clear: there is no conclusive evidence that mobile phone use causes brain tumours. If any risk exists, it is likely very small.
However, in 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RF radiation as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) — a category that also includes substances like coffee and pickled vegetables. This doesn’t mean mobile phones cause cancer, but that further research is warranted.
For those who remain concerned, simple precautions can help reduce exposure without disrupting daily life:
- Use speakerphone or wired/ Bluetooth headsets
- Text instead of calling
- Limit long-duration calls, especially if signal strength is low
As mobile phone technology evolves — with newer generations like 5G — researchers continue to monitor long-term health impacts. So far, the evidence remains largely reassuring, but science is an ongoing process. Staying informed and taking reasonable precautions is a balanced approach.
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