Do Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors? Definitely Maybe Not.

A few years ago, a research study showed a possible link between cell phone usage and brain cancer. They wanted to list radiofrequency energy as “possibly carcinogenic”. 


Everyone freaked. 


Now, a flurry of studies have been done and completed to show no linkage at all between them. Not even a little bit. 


Just look at data from the study posted today! Researchers looked at more than 2.8 million adults — 2.8 million!! — and found that those who’d used a cellphone for 11 to 15 years were no more likely than newer users or non-users to develop an acoustic neuroma (they kind of brain cancer they are most worried about).


Does this mean that there couldn’t be some long term, slowly growing, sneaky stealth tumor that could be formed when people use the cell phone chronically for periods longer that 11 – 15 years? Nope. But, these results are pretty strong to say that, so far, there is in fact no linkage between cell phone usage and brain cancer.  


Key points to keep in mind (from the Nat’l Cancer Institute). 

Key Points

• 1. Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy. Concerns have been raised that this energy from cell phones may pose a cancer risk to users.
• 2. Radiofrequency energy is a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation; exposure depends upon the technology of the phone, distance between the phone’s antenna and the user, the extent and type of use, and distance of the user from base stations.
• 3. Researchers are studying tumors of the brain and central nervous system and other sites of the head and neck because cell phones are typically held next to the head when used.
• 4. Research studies have not shown a consistent link between cell phone use and cancer. A large international study (Interphone) published in 2010 found that, overall, cell phone users are at lower risk for two of the most common types of brain tumor—glioma andmeningioma―compared to non-users. For the small proportion of study participants who reported the most total time on cell phone calls, there was some increased risk of glioma, but the researchers considered this finding inconclusive.
• 5. Further research is needed to investigate possible health effects in children and persons who have used cell phones heavily for many years. 

No link seen between cellphones, brain tumor | Reuters