Mobile phones do NOT increase the risk of brain cancer, scientists confirm
MOBILE phones do not increase the risk of brain cancer, according to 28 years of research.
A review ordered by the World Health Organisation checked 63 studies carried out between 1994 and 2022.
It found no increase in rates of tumours in the head even in the heaviest mobile users.
International experts said gadgets’ radio waves did not appear to affect rates of brain tumours, leukaemia or growths in the pituitary or salivary glands.
Mobile use has rocketed in the past decade and Brits spend about three hours per day online on smartphones.
Newer 3G and 4G networks have lower emissions
Professor Mark Elwood
Study author Professor Mark Elwood, from the University of Auckland, said: “We found no increased risk even with 10-plus years of exposure and the maximum categories of call time or number of calls.
“Most phone use in these studies was from past years and 1G or 2G networks.
“The newer 3G and 4G networks have substantially lower radiofrequency emissions.
“The final assessments are that there are no increased risks, with ‘moderate confidence’ – this is the most definite category of this type of study.”
Ofcom figures show people in the UK spend a combined 42billion minutes per year chatting on the phone and individually average about 2 hours 50 minutes using internet apps.
The new study was commissioned by the WHO and led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.
People’s exposure to radiofrequency waves is also increased by the use of WiFi, radio, baby monitors and hospital scanners.
They are extremely weak forms of radiation, which is known to contribute to cancer in massive doses such as fallout from nuclear bombs.
The most common symptoms of a brain tumour
More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives.
The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.
Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis.
There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment.
Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return.
Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS.
They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision.
The nine most common symptoms are:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Feeling sick
- Being sick
- Memory problems
- Change in personality
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- Vision problems
- Speech problems
If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP.
Source: NHS