Three new studies commissioned by the WHO: No evidence of health risks associated with mobile phone use

Mobile phone in use Source: Alliance/stock.adobe.com

Does mobile phone radiation make you ill? In order to address this question based on current scientific knowledge, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has commissioned several major reviews. The results of three systematic analyses carried out with the participation of the BfS suggest no increased health risks from mobile phone use.

The three comprehensive studies found no reliable evidence linking mobile phone radiation to cancer, oxidative stress, or cognitive decline. The BfS led two of these systematic reviews.

For each of these reviews, several thousand studies from the past decades on HF-EMF fields and health were analysed and checked for quality according to defined standards. The studies are part of a comprehensive reassessment of the risk of HF-EMF by the WHO. These fields are used to transmit information (e.g. when using mobile phones). The last comprehensive assessment of health risks from high-frequency fields was published in 1993. For the new edition, the WHO commissioned 10 systematic reviews from international research institutions.

Dr Inge Paulini

"The new studies are the most comprehensive analyses to date on three of the 10 central questions posed by the WHO on electromagnetic fields. The question of whether mobile phone use increases the risk of people developing head cancer or suffering from cognitive decline can now most probably be answered in the negative. There is also no reliable evidence from the scientific literature for the widely discussed influence of mobile phone radiation on oxidative stress", says BfS President Inge Paulini.

One particularly high-profile publication investigated the connection between electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer in observational studies on humans. For the study, around 5,000 studies from the past decades were analysed and 63 studies were selected according to previously defined and published criteria.

The results of the systematic analysis of these studies speak against an increased risk of tumours of the head through the use of mobile phones. The types of tumours investigated include gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary tumours, and salivary gland tumours in adults as well as brain tumours in children. No correlation between cordless phone fields, transmitter masts, and increased cancer risk was found. The results are consistent with time-series analyses and were supported by additional sensitivity analyses.

Dr Dan Baaken

"This study is the most comprehensive analysis of this issue to date. Based on this comprehensive data, we conclude that there is no link between the use of mobile phones and an increased risk of cancer, especially brain tumours", says BfS co-author Dr Dan Baaken. The authors are conducting another metastudy in which they are investigating the risk of other cancers such as leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and thyroid cancer. The publication is expected to appear in early 2025.

Another BfS-led study investigated a possible link between exposure to HF-EMF and biomarkers of oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidation and reduction in body cells, which is linked to inflammation and cardiovascular disease, among others. Biomarkers of oxidative stress include certain changes in proteins or DNA.

Over 12,000 experimental animal and cell culture studies were analysed. Fifty-six studies published between 2008 and 2023 were included in the analysis. The results show no reliable evidence linking high-frequency fields to oxidative cell stress in global studies to date..

Dr Felix Meyer

"Our investigation revealed that the study results were very inconsistent and that most of the studies had some serious methodological flaws. Confidence in the evidence from the studies included remains low, but the need for high-quality studies is high", says lead author of the study, Dr Felix Meyer from the BfS.

This study is the first to systematically analyse the relationship between HF-EMF and influences on biomarkers of oxidative stress.

A third BfS-led study analysed scientific literature on experimental studies in humans on electromagnetic fields and cognitive performance. Around 23,000 works were viewed for this purpose. Of these, 76 studies were included in the evaluation, which investigated the influence of these fields on reaction speed, attention, memory, and perception. "Overall, the data in this area are quite clear and indicate that no negative effects on cognitive abilities are expected from high-frequency fields if the limits are observed", says author Dr Blanka Pophof from the BfS.

These results from the three reviews are highly relevant for radiation protection because they form the basis assessing the risks connected with HF-EMF. They also identify where further research is needed. The WHO is expected to publish the full results in 2025.