In this chapter, we will bring a list of studies that show a link between Cell Phone use and Cancer.
Cell Phones (and smartphones) are today one of the main (if not the main factor) exposure factors in most people. The use of cell phones started in 1980. Only a small percentage of the population used them until 1990. Between 1990 and 2000 the number of active cell phones became higher and higher until most of the population had them by the year 2000. Today even kids have smartphones or cellphones.
Between 1990 and 2000 the phones started to be “not just for talking”, and they became smarter and smarted (and more addicting). SMS was incorporated in the first 2G phones. 2.5 generation phones had a slow data transfer that allowed to slowly surf in specially build websites. 3G phones had a much faster internet connection and could surf the web, transfer video calls, run application and much more. In this point of this them started to emit RF radiation most of the time, not just when having a call or SMS.
All mobile phones emit RF Radiation and also other types of EMF (for example ELF magnetic and electric fields). The first generation was analog, the second was digital in GSM or CDMA standards. The third generation was UMTS, an upgrade of CDMA standard. Fourth Generation is mainly LTE. 5G will probably be an evolution of that.
Mobile(both cell phones and smartphones) phone use is looked at as one of the key “testing points” to the question “does RF radiation exposure can have a health risk”. That is because most people own them, most people use them, researches can track the usage (ask the bills and company records), and the source of radiation is very close to the head and body. So if EMF radiation exposure is not healthy, if there is a risk or some health effect, it should be seen on mobile phone users (after a latency period). Therefor lost of studies have been done on the possible health effect of mobile phones. If RF radiation is a cause of cancer than the mobile phone should also be a cause of cancer.
Followed are some of the main ones that showed effect and risk.
| # | Researcher, team, country, year, published on | About the study | Bottom line and relevancy |
| 1 | The US National Toxicology Program (NTP), 2016 | NTP STUDY 2018 a US$25,000,000 study done by the NTP (National Toxicology Program, USA) that was build to test if the long held assumption that the only health effect of low level RF radiation is heat. Study found: More Glioma in rodents that were exposed to RFR More Swanova of the hart in rodents that were exposed to RFR More Precancerous conditions in in rodents that were exposed to RFR More DNA break in rodents that were exposed to RFR Smaller off springs to rodents that were exposed to RFR  In the picture – incidence of cancer in male rats exposed to CDMA and GSM RFR Press conference – https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2018/november1/index.cfm Summary of the study – https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/cellphones/ List of studies with in the NTP project – https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/testing/status/agents/ts-08013.html Rats final – Final Rat Study Report – https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ntp-temp/tr595_508.pdf Mice Final – Final Mouse Study Report – https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ntp-temp/tr596_508.pdf Face Sheet – https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/cell_phone_radiofrequency_radiation_studies_508.pdf DNA article of this study, preliminary published at 10-2019 – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/em.22343?   | RFR from cell phones link to cancer is becoming stronger. |
| 2 | The Interphone international team, data up to 2001, published 2010 | The interphone study – added risk to Glioma in “heavy users “The Interphone study show added risk to Glioma for user that talked on his/her mobile phone for more than 27 minutes per day for 10 years. This study shows a 40% (82% after statistical correction in appendix 2) an increased risk for Glioma of people who used the cell phone for more than 27 minutes a day in 10 years (total of more than 1640 hours). This study was published all over the world (and it’s headline say) “no link to cancer”, while the row data shows a different story. The Study – http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/39/3/675.full.pdf Appendix 2 – http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/suppl/2010/05/06/dyq079.DC1/Interphone_Appendix2.pdf Links and review – https://microwavenews.com/Interphone.Resources.html IARC Press release – https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr200_E.pdf  In the picture – Appendix 2 – the real data show added risk to users | |
| 3 | L. Hardell teams. Sweden | Hardels Studies on Cell phones and cordless phones. Hardel studies show a link between cell phone and cordless phone use and types of brain cancer In his many studies, hardel and his team, show the link between the use, exposure to RFR and different types of cancer. Studies list – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Hardell+L%5BAuthor%5D Selected studies: Pooled analysis of Swedish case-control studies during 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 on meningioma risk associated with the use of mobile and cordless phones. Increasing rates of brain tumours in the Swedish national inpatient register and the causes of death register. Biomarkers in volunteers exposed to mobile phone radiation. Mobile phone and cordless phone use and the risk for glioma – Analysis of pooled case-control studies in Sweden, 1997-2003 and 2007-2009. Decreased survival of glioma patients with astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) associated with long-term use of mobile and cordless phones. Long-term mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma. Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use. Pooled analysis of case-control studies on acoustic neuroma diagnosed 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 and use of mobile and cordless phones. Meningioma patients diagnosed 2007-2009 and the association with the use of mobile and cordless phones: a case-control study. Use of mobile phones and cordless phones is associated with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. Use of mobile and cordless phones and the survival of patients with glioma. Use of wireless phones and the risk of salivary gland tumours: a case-control study.  | Cell phone & cordless phone use cause cancer |
| 4 | French team. 2013 BMJ – Occupational & Environmental MedicineVolume 71, Issue 7 | CERENAT case-control study – Coureau G, Bouvier G, Lebailly P, et al Mobile phone use and brain tumours in the CERENAT case-control study Occup Environ Med 2014;71:514-522 In this questionnaire study 253 Glioma Brain cancer patients, 194 Meningiomas and 892 controls, were asked about this cell phone use habits. The study found that “Heaviest Users” had an added risk of both types of brain cancers: Higher than 896 Hours (about 14.72 minutes per day for 10 years) – OR=2.89; 95% CI 1.41 to 5.93 for gliomas; OR=2.57; 95% CI 1.02 to 6.44 for meningiomas. Number of calls higher than 18 360 calls (about 5 calls per day for 10 years), OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.31 Even “Normal Users” has a OR=1.24 for Gliomas. “Risks were higher for gliomas, temporal tumours, occupational and urban mobile phone use.” Study – http://oem.bmj.com/content/71/7/514 | ” a possible association between heavy mobile phone use and brain tumours” |
| 5 | American team 2013 Case Reports in MedicineVolume 2013 (2013), Article ID 354682, 5 pages | Case Report – Multifocal Breast Cancer in Young Women with Prolonged Contact between Their Breasts and Their Cellular Phones Link – http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2013/354682/  | |
| 6 | An Israeli team led by Prof Sigal Sidesky, 2008 Am J Epidemiol (2008) 167 (4): 457-467. | Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Benign and Malignant Parotid Gland Tumors—A Nationwide Case-Control Study This study was part of the interphone study (see above) and was published on it’s own. The study tested and found a correlation between cellphone use and Benign and Malignant Parotid Gland Tumor. The results showed an increase risk of 58% in the users that did the most number of calls (>5,479 , in 10 years that would be about 1.5 calls a day) and of 49% in the group of users that has the most time on the phone without the use of speaker or an earpiece (>266.3 hours, in 10 years that would be 4.377 minutes a day ) . Study – http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/167/4/457.long | Talking on the phone when next to the head |
| 7 | Israeli team 2012 Antioxidants & Redox Signaling | More free radicals in human Saliva of cellphone users Is Human Saliva an Indicator of the Adverse Health Effects of Using Mobile Phones? Link – http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ars.2012.4751 | Cellphone use next to the head |
| 8 | Israeli team 2011 Epidemiology: January 2011 – Volume 22 – Issue 1 – pp 130-131 | Rise in salivary gland cancers cases in israel Risk of Parotid Malignant Tumors in Israel (1970–2006) Link – https://journals.lww.com/epidem/Fulltext/2011/01000/ Risk_of_Parotid_Malignant_Tumors_in_Israel.25.aspx  | Cellphone use next to the head |
| 9 | Chinese team 2011 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery September 2011Volume 40, Issue 9, Pages 966–972 | Raise in salivary gland cancers cases in China Correlation between cellular phone use and epithelial parotid gland malignancieslink – https://www.ijoms.com/article/S0901-5027(11)00117-2/fulltext  | Cellphone use next to the head |
| 10 | Israeli Team 2013 | Proliferative effect of NIER on human thyrocytes EFFECT OF NON-IONIZING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AT MOBILE PHONE FREQUENCY ON HUMAN THYROID CELLS – http://thyroidworldcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/O022_Mizrachi.pdf ” proliferative effect of NIER on human thyrocytes, an effect that may link NIER exposure with potential carcinogenesis” | Cellphone use next to the head |
| 11 | French team 2013 BMJ – Occupational & Environmental Medicine | Increased risk for Glioma cancer in “Heavy” cellphone users Mobile phone use and brain tumours in the CERENAT case-control study – https://oem.bmj.com/content/71/7/514 | Cellphone use next to the head |
| 12 | American team 2012 Scientific Reports 2, Article number: 312 (2012) | Neuropathology due to in-utero cellular telephone radiation Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice – http://www.nature.com/articles/srep00312 “Mice exposed in-utero were hyperactive and had impaired memory as determined using the object recognition, light/dark box and step-down assays” doi:10.1038/srep00312 | Cellphone radiation exposure |
| 13 | Poland team Ind Health. 2008 Aug;46(4):409-17. | Changes in heart rate variability during the call with a mobile phone The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18716391 | Cellphone radiation exposure |
| 14 | National Cancer Institute,USA, 2012 BMJ 2012;344:e1147 | Raised risks of glioma in the US data could be consistent with the excess risks in the Interphone study. Mobile phone use and glioma risk: comparison of epidemiological study results with incidence trends in the United Stateshttps://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e1147 | Cellphone radiation exposure |
| 15 | Turkish team 2012 Int J Radiat Biol. 2012 May;88(5): | GSM cellphone use for 15 and 30 minutes cause DNA breaks in human hair Single-strand DNA breaks in human hair root cells exposed to mobile phone radiation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22348707?dopt=Abstract# | Cellphone radiation exposure |
| 16 | Environmental Health Trust, 2011 | Rise in Brain Cancer in Scandinavian Countries Data from the NORDCAN show increase in incidence of Brain Cancer in Finland and Norway between 2005 and 2009. Mortality rates remain stable. Link – http://www.saferphonezone.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/NorwegianBrainCancer.pdf Charts – http://www.saferphonezone.com/increasing-brain-cancer-incidences-in-finland-and-norway/ About- http://www.cisionwire.com/the-investor-relations-group/r/researchers-report-alarming-rise-in-brain-cancer-in-scandinavian-countries,c9182179  In Finland  In Norway | Possible link between cancer and cell phone use |
| 17 | 2011 Hallberg O1, Johansson O.2011 Sep;18(4):313-5. | Increasing rates of head melanoma in Nordic countries A letter to the editor regarding the increase rates of head melanoma(X2 in sun exposed area of the skin, and X20 non exposed areas) in nordic countries. The scientist previous studies highlighted immune disturbing body-resonant radio waves as having a potential etiologic role in the increased incidence of melanoma Full text – https://www.pathophysiologyjournal.com/article/S0928-4680(11)00027-7/fulltext http://sgll.nu/MedPub/Ref38.pdf Ö. Hallberg, O. Johansson, Increasing rates of head melanoma in Nordic countries, Pathophysiology (2011), doi:10.1016/j.pathophys.2011.05.002 doi:10.1016 /j.pathophys.2011.05.002. Epub 2011 Jun 16.  | More head melanoma cases my be related to cellphone use. |
| 18 | Austrilian team 2010 Neuro Oncol (2011) 13 (7): 783-790. | A multicenter study of primary brain tumor incidence in Australia (2000–2008) “A significant increase in primary malignant brain tumors from 2000 to 2008 was observed; this appears to be largely due to an increase in malignant tumor incidence in the ≥65-year age group. “ Abstract: http://neuro-oncology.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/7/783.abstract Full Text (require account) : http://neuro-oncology.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/7/783.full DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/nor052 | |
| 19 | Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Apr; 12(4): 3793–3813. | Brain tumors are increasing in Denmark “The number of people diagnosed with tumors of the central nervous system (CNS, including brain tumors) in Denmark has more than doubled since 1990 according to new statistics and the largest increase has been in the last 10 years until 2015. Among young people aged 0-39 years, tumors in the CNS are the type of cancer that has increased the most. “ http://www.stralskyddsstiftelsen.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/denmark_cnstumorsrising_2017-01-20.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4410216/  בתמונה למטה – עליה המקרי הסרטן של מערכת העצבים המרכזית בדנמרק החל מ 1990. | Brain tumors are increasing in Denmark |
| 20 | Switzerland 2011, Apidologie May 2011, Volume 42, Issue 3, pp 270–279 | Mobile phone-induced honeybee worker piping “The worldwide maintenance of the honeybee has major ecological, economic, and political implications. In the present study, electromagnetic waves originating from mobile phones were tested for potential effects on honeybee behavior. Mobile phone handsets were placed in the close vicinity of honeybees. The sound made by the bees was recorded and analyzed. The audiograms and spectrograms revealed that active mobile phone handsets have a dramatic impact on the behavior of the bees, namely by inducing the worker piping signal. In natural conditions, worker piping either announces the swarming process of the bee colony or is a signal of a disturbed bee colony.” Full text – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13592-011-0016-x | Strengthen the link between RF radiation and colony collapse disorder (CCD) |
| 21 | Korea 2011, Myung SK1, Ju W, McDonnell DD, Lee YJ, Kazinets G, Cheng CT, Moskowitz JM. | Mobile phone use and risk of tumors: a meta-analysis “The current study found that there is possible evidence linking mobile phone use to an increased risk of tumors from a meta-analysis of low-biased case-control studies(23 case-control studies, which involved 37,916 participants). Prospective cohort studies providing a higher level of evidence are needed.” 23 case control studies about cell phone use and cancer were reviewed. Summery of 8 of the highest qulity studies shows a possible link, Studies that were founded by industry had lowerqulity. Link – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19826127 PMID: 19826127 DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2008.21.6366 | Strenghten the link between celphone use and increased risk of cancer. |
| 22 | India, 2007, Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2009;64(6):561-5. | RF-EMR from mobile phones negatively affects semen quality and may impair male fertility. Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHz) mobile phones induces oxidative stress and reduces sperm motility in rats. “Rats exposed to RF-EMR exhibited a significantly reduced percentage of motile sperm. Moreover, RF-EMR exposure resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and low GSH content in the testis and epididymis. CONCLUSION: Given the results of the present study, we speculate that RF-EMR from mobile phones negatively affects semen quality and may impair male fertility.” Link – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19578660?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2 PMID: 19578660 PMCID: PMC2705159 | RF-EMR from mobile phones negatively affects semen quality and may impair male fertility. |
| 23 | USA 2008, Fertil Steril. 2008 Jan;89(1):124-8. Epub 2007 May 4. | Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study. “Use of cell phones decrease the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology. The decrease in sperm parameters was dependent on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones and independent of the initial semen quality.” Full Study – https://www.clevelandclinic.org/reproductiveresearchcenter/docs/agradoc239.pdf Abstract – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17482179 PMID: 17482179 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.01.166 | Use of cell phones decrease the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology |
| 24 | CHINA 2013 Reprod Sci. 2013 Sep; 20(9): 1055–1061. | “Proteomic Analysis on the Alteration of Protein Expression in the Early-Stage Placental Villous Tissue of Electromagnetic Fields Associated With Cell Phone Exposure” “Cell phone EMF might alter the protein profile of chorionic tissue of early pregnancy, during the most sensitive stage of the embryos. The exposure to EMF may cause adverse effects on cell proliferation and development of nervous system in early embryos. Furthermore, 2-DE coupled with mass spectrometry is a promising approach to elucidate the effects and search for new biomarkers for environmental toxic effects.” Link – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3745709/ doi: 10.1177/1933719112473660 | Exposure to EMF may cause adverse effects on cell proliferation and development of nervous system in early embryos |
| 25 | Holand 2015, PLoS One. 2015; 10(6): e0129496. | EEG Changes Due to Experimentally Induced 3G Mobile Phone Radiation “This study attempted to approach the question whether or not mobile phones cause (short-term) changes in EEG activity. There was evidence that mobile phone radiation is associated with increased activity of the alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands in nearly every brain region. The distance of the mobile phone to the brain was relevant, a larger distance resulting in less or no EEG interference. Replication of the present findings and investigation of possible long term (clinically relevant) effects is urgently required.” Link – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4459698/ PLoS One. 2015; 10(6): e0129496.Published online 2015 Jun 8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129496 | Cellphone radiation has an effect on Brain EEG |
| 26 | Turkey 2015′ | Long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices decreases plasma prolactin, progesterone, and estrogen levels but increases uterine oxidative stress in pregnant rats and their offspring. Abstract – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26578367?dopt=Abstract Full text – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12020-015-0795-3  | RFR cause changes in rats biological parameters. |
| 27 | Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden | Information and communication technology (ICT) use and mental health in young adults Effects of computer and mobile phone use on stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression “The main findings in this thesis suggest that intensive ICT use can have an impact on mental health among young adults. The concepts and ideas of the young adults with high ICT use and mental health symptoms generated a model showing several possible paths for associations between ICT exposure and mental health. Factors in different domains may have an impact and should be considered in epidemiological studies. Intensive computer use (“intensive” in terms of duration of use or continuous use without breaks) was a prospective risk factor for reporting sleep disturbances in the men and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression in the women. Often using the computer late at night and thus losing sleep was a prospective risk factor for several mental health outcomes in both sexes. Frequent mobile phone use was a prospective risk factor for reporting sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression in the men, and symptoms of depression in the women. Perceiving the accessibility offered by mobile phones as stressful was associated with most mental health outcomes in both sexes. Combined intensive computer and mobile phone use enhanced associations with mental health symptoms.” | Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 28 | USA 2015,Robert Rosenberger Computers in Human BehaviorVolume 52, November | An experiential account of phantom vibration syndrome A review of several studies about cellphone pantom vibration feeling in people. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563215003611 | Phantom vibration when cellphone is aginst the skin becomes a wide phnomena |
| 29 | Australia 09/2016 2016 Reproduction Dec;152(6):R263-R276. Epub 2016 Sep 6. | The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on sperm function. “Among a total of 27 studies investigating the effects of RF-EMR on the male reproductive system, negative consequences of exposure were reported in 21. Within these 21 studies, 11 of the 15 that investigated sperm motility reported significant declines, 7 of 7 that measured the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) documented elevated levels and 4 of 5 studies that probed for DNA damage highlighted increased damage due to RF-EMR exposure. Associated with this, RF-EMR treatment reduced the antioxidant levels in 6 of 6 studies that discussed this phenomenon, whereas consequences of RF-EMR were successfully ameliorated with the supplementation of antioxidants in all 3 studies that carried out these experiments. In light of this, we envisage a two-step mechanism whereby RF-EMR is able to induce mitochondrial dysfunction leading to elevated ROS production.” Abstract – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27601711 Full Text – https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/152/6/R263.xml | RFR effect sperm function |
| 30 | USA 2018 Anthony B.Millera L LloydMorganb IrisUdasinc Devra LeeDavisde | Cancer epidemiology update, following the 2011 IARC evaluation of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (Monograph 102) ” Scientists Publish That Mobile Phone Radiation Can Cause Cancer Based On Updated Accumulation Of Research Evidence Increased risk of brain, vestibular nerve and salivary gland tumors are associated with mobile phone use.•Nine studies (2011–2017) report increased risk of brain cancer from mobile phone use.•Four case-control studies (3 in 2013, 1 in 2014) report increased risk of vestibular nerve tumors.•Concern for other cancers: breast (male & female), testis, leukemia, and thyroid.•Based on the evidence reviewed it is our opinion that IARC’s current categorization of RFR as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) should be upgraded to Carcinogenic to Humans (Group 1).Full text – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118303475 | |
| 31 | Switerland 2018, | “A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication” “”Our findings for a cohort of Swiss adolescents require confirmation in other populations but suggest a potential adverse effect of RF-EMF brain dose on cognitive functions that involve brain regions mostly exposed during mobile phone use”” Link – https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP2427 | a potential adverse effect of RF-EMF brain dose on cognitive functions that involve brain regions mostly exposed during mobile phone use. |
| 32 | Hanry Lay, Lavitt | The roles of intensity, exposure duration, and modulation on the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation and exposure guidelines. this study shows that the SAR standard is not protective and not relevant to health and biological damage caused by RF radiation from cell phones. This study reviews 112 studies that found biological damage in exposure to RFR at levels 100 times lower than the SAR standard (0.0165W/KG). Link – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35438055/ PMID: 35438055 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2065683 | SAR standard is not protective and not relevant |
More studies about Cell Phone use and Cancer: