New study supported by World Health Organisation explains link between mobile phones and brain cancer

A new study has debunked fears that electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones increase a person's risk of developing cancer in the head, neck or brain.

According to a recent study shared by The Conversation, researchers looked into the results of 13 reviews commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on how electromagnetic waves may impact our health.

The results, published today, suggest there is currently no evidence that walking around while holding a smartphone to your ear increases the likelihood of developing certain cancers.

World Health Organisation commissions 13 reviews into electromagnetic waves and cancer

Back in 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) commissioned a series of reviews into whether or not exposure to electromagnetic waves caused health complications as part of its ongoing research into the topic, as part of its International EMF Project.

We're all glued to our smartphones these days, but is there a potential health risk (Getty Stock Images)

The researchers behind one of the reviews published their findings in the last edition of the New Zealand Medical Journal, with the findings showing no overall increased risk between mobile phone usage and an increased risk of developing head, brain and neck cancers, noting: "If there was an increased risk of brain cancer from mobile phone exposures, increases in the incidence would be expected."

The findings were the same for both adults and children.

The findings mirror guidance currently shared by Cancer Research UK, which notes that there is currently 'no reliable evidence' that mobile phone usage, as well as 4G and 5G mobile networks increase a person's likelihood of developing cancer, concluding: "It doesn't matter how much you use your phone or where you keep it. Large studies have not found a link between mobile phone use and cancer."

Despite concerns, there is no evidence which currently shows a link between mobile phones and cancer (Getty Stock Images)

The findings are the same for Bluetooth-enabled devices and wi-fi networks, which also run on radio waves.

This includes wireless earpods, with Healthline noting there is currently no evidence to suggest that wireless headsets increase a person's risk of developing cancer in the head and neck.

What are radio waves?

A type of electromagnetic radiation, radio waves have the lowest frequencies and longest wavelengths out of anything on the electromagnetic spectrum.

In fact, your mobile emits significantly less radiation than the sun.

At the higher end of the spectrum sit items such as X-rays and sunbeds, which emit higher-energy, ionising radiation, which has been linked with the development of certain cancers.

However, the stuff coming from your phone, as well as the TV, microwave, wi-fi router and radio, is non-ionising radiation, meaning it is unable to alter your DNA.

Who remembers learning about the electromagnetic spectrum? (Getty Stock Images)

More research needed

While current findings from researchers suggest no clear risk between radio waves and certain cancers, some of the research cited in the NZ Medical Journal was noted as being 'low' or 'very low' in its confidence.

This is where research didn't demonstrate high enough evidence to rule out the risk completely, with the authors noting that no science can 'prove' a complete absence of risk.

However, not all of the research examined was categorised as 'low', with the studies around mobile phones and brain cancer being given the highest possible rating.