WHO gives conclusion on 'do mobile phones cause brain cancer?' controversy

Previously, there were some studies showing the relationship between brain cancer and mobile phones that many people were concerned about. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released results on this issue.

In 2011, after reviewing the scientific evidence, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer deemed mobile phone use 'probably carcinogenic,'.

The study, titled 'Mechanisms of oxidative stress on biological activities induced by low-frequency radiation', provides data on the effects of low-frequency radiation (RFR) on living cells. The study was published in the journal Electromagnetic Biology & Medicine.

According to Dr. Igor Yakymenko, co-author of the study, frequent exposure to RFR waves leads to metabolic imbalance, also known as oxidative stress, which can cause cancer and many other diseases.

However, after more than 10 years, the WHO itself concluded that there is no link between mobile phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer.

On September 3, the latest assessment commissioned by the WHO was published, stating that there is no evidence that using mobile phones increases the risk of brain cancer. Even if people use their phones frequently and make calls for a long time, the risk of brain cancer will not increase.

This study was comprehensive, evaluating data from 63 studies between 1994 and 2022 conducted by 11 investigators in 10 different countries.

However, mobile phones still have effects on human health such as causing memory loss, behavioral disorders and affecting sleep, damaging the eyes, reducing sperm quality in men if exposed to a lot.

Therefore, users need to pay attention to the time spent using smartphones to avoid negative impacts on health.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 06 September 2024