"Keeping a Cell Phone by Your Bed Causes Brain Cancer"?... WHO's Final Conclusion

WHO "Research Analysis Results, Groundless"

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released findings showing no connection between cell phone electromagnetic waves and the occurrence of brain diseases such as brain cancer and leukemia. Previous advice from some quarters warning against placing cell phones near the head before sleep, claiming that electromagnetic waves could cause brain diseases, has been proven to be mere myth.

On the 3rd (local time), WHO reviewed 5,000 related studies published over 28 years from 1994 to 2022, and after a final analysis of 63 studies, announced that there is no association between cell phone use and brain cancer incidence.

WHO confirmed through the analysis that even long-term exposure to cell phone electromagnetic waves for over 10 years or frequent phone calls does not increase the risk of brain cancer. Additionally, children exposed to electromagnetic waves from radio or TV transmitters and cell phone base stations also did not show an increased risk of diseases such as brain cancer or leukemia.

The misconception that cell phone electromagnetic waves increase the risk of brain cancer largely stems from the 2011 classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under WHO, which categorized electromagnetic waves as possibly carcinogenic.

According to The Washington Post (WP), this classification was based on limited case studies involving some brain cancer patients and does not imply that electromagnetic waves are definitively carcinogenic like tobacco smoke. IARC classifies substances as possibly carcinogenic when there is some research on cancer risk but no strong evidence. Furthermore, the original studies underestimated the likelihood that brain cancer patients might provide biased responses due to their desire to understand the cause of their illness.

WHO also stated that cell phone base stations are not linked to an increased risk of brain diseases. Base stations have been regarded as undesirable facilities due to concerns about electromagnetic wave hazards. In fact, it was revealed that base stations reduce electromagnetic wave exposure because cell phones do not need to emit stronger signals to receive signals from them.