Synopsis
A comprehensive study led by Australia's nuclear and radiation safety agency indicates no connection between mobile phone usage and various cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma. This research, commissioned by WHO, highlights the lack of evidence linking mobile technology to cancer risks.Key Takeaways
- No link found between mobile phone use and various cancers.
- Second systematic review by ARPANSA for WHO.
- First review also found no connection with brain cancers.
- Research adds to public knowledge on wireless technology and cancer.
- WHO preparing updated health impact assessment.
Canberra, Feb 4 (NationPress) A study conducted by Australia's nuclear and radiation safety agency has revealed no correlation between mobile phone usage and various forms of cancer.
This research, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and released on Tuesday, discovered no link between radio wave exposure from mobile devices and multiple cancer types, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and cancers affecting the thyroid and oral cavity.
This marks the second systematic review commissioned by the WHO carried out by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
The first review, which came out in September 2024, examined the relationship between mobile phone use and brain and other head-related cancers, also finding no connection.
Ken Karipidis, the primary author of both studies and assistant director of Health Impact Assessment at ARPANSA, stated that the latest research evaluated all available evidence regarding the connection between mobile phones, mobile phone towers, and cancers.
He mentioned that while the researchers found no association between radio wave exposure and various forms of cancer, they cannot be as confident in these results compared to the review concerning brain cancers.
"This is due to the limited evidence available on the connection between these cancers and exposure to radio waves from wireless technology," Karipidis noted.
Rohan Mate, an ARPANSA scientist who participated in the study, remarked that these findings would "contribute to the existing knowledge to educate the public about wireless technology and its potential cancer risks."
The two systematic reviews will serve as a basis for an updated evaluation of the health impacts of radio wave exposure that is currently being prepared by the WHO.
According to the WHO, cancer encompasses a vast array of diseases that can initiate in nearly any organ or tissue within the body when abnormal cells proliferate uncontrollably, invade neighboring tissues, and/or disseminate to other organs. This latter process is termed metastasis and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Other commonly used terms for cancer include neoplasm and malignant tumor.
Cancer remains the second leading cause of global mortality, responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, equating to 1 in 6 deaths in 2018. The most prevalent cancers among men include lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and thyroid cancers are most common among women.
The global cancer burden is on the rise, placing immense physical, emotional, and financial stress on individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems. Numerous health systems in low- and middle-income countries are inadequately equipped to manage this burden, resulting in many cancer patients worldwide lacking access to timely and quality diagnosis and treatment.
