Even though mobile telephones meet the standards, there are still factors that justify careful use and further research into the possible health effects of this technology, including limited scientific indications for a possible higher risk of brain cancer in case of prolonged intensive use.
According to the conclusion of the World Health Organisation, more specifically the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there may be a higher risk of brain cancer when intensive use is made of mobile phones. The IARC therefore classified radio waves as ‘possibly carcinogenic to human beings'.
This conclusion was drawn after a joint analysis of available epidemiological studies and research on animals and cells. In most of the studies no indications were found of a higher brain cancer risk, but two large studies (the international research Interphone and a Swedish meta-analysis*) indicated a higher risk of glioma and, to a more uncertain degree, of acoustic neuroma, in case of prolonged mobile phone use (total use duration higher than 1500-2000 hours). Research on animals also concluded that there are 'limited indications' for a possible correlation.
Good to know
The classification 2B, ‘possibly carcinogenic to human beings’, is attributed to environmental factors and substances that show ‘limited epidemiological indications' in relation to cancer. According to the IARC, coffee and car exhaust fumes also belong to that group. In the case of 'limited indications' it is still possible that the relationship that was detected is only seeming, the results being potentially influenced by a coincidence or by bias. The degree of certainty when something is classified as ‘potentially carcinogenic to human beings’ is lower than this is the case for the classifications 1 (‘carcinogenic’) and 2A (‘probably carcinogenic’). When even less indications exist, a substance is considered ‘not classifiable’ (3). Finally, there is the classification 4, ‘probably not carcinogenic’.
The IARC insists on the necessity of further research and recommends meanwhile to reduce the exposure to mobile phone radiation by using an earpiece or by sending messages. You can find more tips in the section “Tips for prudent use”.
Do other sources of radio waves also pose a possible risk?
First of all, the conclusion of the IARC is based on the studies on mobile phones and, to a lesser extent, on wireless home telephones. The IARC could not make specific statements on transmission towers of mobile telephony. The agency feels that the research about this is insufficient to draw conclusions.
Good to know
The exposure to radio waves from transmission masts is more than 10,000 times smaller than the exposure when using mobile phones, but is of a continuous nature.
* A meta- analyses is a research where different studies from individual phenomenons are combined to give a result that is more accurate than the result of every study on its own. By analyzing the results of several studies jointly, statements can be made and insights can be gained that would not be possible on the basis of each of the individual researches separately.