Does Cell Phones cause cancer?

The possible connection between cell phones and cancer is controversial. Years’ worth of studies on cell phones and cancer have yielded conflicting results. Currently, there’s no consensus about the degree of cancer risk if any posed by cell phone use.

The primary concern seems to be the development of brain tumors associated with cell phone use. Some research suggests a slight increase in the rate of brain tumors since the 1970s, but these subtle increases are likely related to other factors such as increased access to medical care and improvements in diagnostic imaging, as well as a minor but real increase in brain lymphomas partly due to HIV and other conditions affecting the immune system. In fact, it would be impossible for cell phones to be the cause of any increase in brain tumors in the 1970s because cell phones weren’t in use at the time.

So what have researchers learned about cell phones and cancer? In one recent study that followed more than 420,000 cell phone users over a 20-year period, researchers found no evidence of a link between cell phones and brain tumors. Another recent study suggested an association between cell phone use and cancer of the salivary glands. However, only a small number of study participants had malignant tumors, and there was a clear increase in the use of tobacco a well-known cause of salivary gland cancer among these participants.

Still, a series of recent studies can’t tell the entire story. It often takes many years between the use of a new cancer causing agent such as tobacco and the observation of an increase in cancer rates. At this point, it’s possible that too little time has passed to detect an increase in cancer rates directly attributable to cell phone use.

The bottom line? For now, no one knows if cell phones are capable of causing cancer. Although long-term studies are ongoing, to date there’s no convincing evidence that cell phone use increases the risk of cancer. If you’re concerned about the possible link between cell phones and cancer, consider limiting your use of cell phones or use a headset that places the cell phone antenna farther from your body.