A new review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) found no evidence linking mobile phone use to an increased risk of brain cancer. The review examined data from 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022 and included assessments by 11 investigators from 10 countries, including representatives from the Australian government’s radiation protection authority.

The review focused on the effects of radiofrequency radiation, which is used in mobile phones, television, baby monitors, and radar. According to co-author Mark Elwood, MD, professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, "None of the major questions studied showed increased risks."

The studies evaluated cancer risks associated with mobile phone use, including brain cancers in adults and children, as well as cancers of the pituitary and salivary glands, leukemias, and potential risks linked to base stations, transmitters, or occupational exposure. Additional findings on other cancer types will be reported separately.

Despite the widespread increase in the use of wireless technology, the review did not find a corresponding rise in brain cancer incidence, even among individuals who frequently make long phone calls or have used mobile phones for over a decade.

The findings align with previous WHO and other international health organizations' reports, which have not found definitive evidence of adverse health effects from mobile phone radiation but have called for further research. The International Agency for Research on Cancer currently classifies radiofrequency radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".

However, the agency's advisory group has recommended that this classification be re-evaluated in light of new data since its last assessment in 2011.