Get the Facts
GET THE FACTS
WE’LL BUST ALL THOSE MYTHS RIGHT NOW.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do cell phones cause cancer?
People are concerned about whether radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system cancers. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (low energy) which is a completely different energy than ionizing radiation, the latter found to increase risks of these cancers. Research carried out over many years by different experts in multiple countries using the best designed scientific studies in very large numbers of people show no consistent increase in malignant or benign brain and central nervous system cancers in adults or in children who are heavy users of cell phones. Although the number of cell phone users have greatly increased from the mid-1990s to the present time, the occurrence of these cancers has not increased which again indicate that cell phone use is not related to these cancers.
What we know about cell phones and cancer
People are concerned that the widespread radiofrequency nonionizing radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system (brain/CNS) cancers. This is because cell phones are held close to the head and because ionizing radiation (emitting a completely different type of energy than the nonionizing cell phone radiation) increases the risks of these cancers.
The evidence from studies to date as described below does not support a relationship between cell phone use and brain/CNS cancers.
- Population-based malignant brain/CNS cancer incidence rates (i.e., diagnosis of new cases in the entire population in a country or region) in adults and in children have been stable for several decades in the U.S. and other countries. Nationwide U.S. incidence rates for benign brain tumors in adults have only been available since 2004, the rates have been stable for more than a decade. If use of cell phones increases risk of brain/CNS tumors, one would expect to see increasing rates because numbers of users and amount of use have expanded greatly since the mid-1990s.
- Follow-up studies of large populations of adult cell phone subscribers (Denmark) or women self-reporting use (United Kingdom) have found no evidence of increased malignant and benign brain/CNS cancer risks with cell phone use.
- The 13-country Interphone case-control study mostly showed no increases overall in brain/CNS malignant or benign brain tumors. One analysis showed a small statistically significant increase in malignant brain/CNS cancers in people who spent the most time on cell phone calls, but the researchers interpreted this finding as inconclusive.
- Single country case-control studies in adults have reported inconsistent results for use of cell phones in relation to brain/CNS cancers, but these studies lack the large size and highest quality methods of the large-scale investigations described in #2 and #3 above.
- Two international case-control studies of children/adolescent and adolescent/young adult brain tumors showed no increase in brain tumor risk related to use of cell phones.
- See description of evidence from animal studies in section _____
What about cognitive, sleep, or other disorders?
People are concerned about whether radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system cancers. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (low energy) which is a completely different energy than ionizing radiation, the latter found to increase risks of these cancers. Research carried out over many years by different experts in multiple countries using the best designed scientific studies in very large numbers of people show no consistent increase in malignant or benign brain and central nervous system cancers in adults or in children who are heavy users of cell phones. Although the number of cell phone users have greatly increased from the mid-1990s to the present time, the occurrence of these cancers has not increased which again indicate that cell phone use is not related to these cancers.
Is it safe to live near a cell site?
People are concerned about whether radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system cancers. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (low energy) which is a completely different energy than ionizing radiation, the latter found to increase risks of these cancers. Research carried out over many years by different experts in multiple countries using the best designed scientific studies in very large numbers of people show no consistent increase in malignant or benign brain and central nervous system cancers in adults or in children who are heavy users of cell phones. Although the number of cell phone users have greatly increased from the mid-1990s to the present time, the occurrence of these cancers has not increased which again indicate that cell phone use is not related to these cancers.
Are my children at risk for exposure to EMF because they live, play, or attend school near a power station/cell phone tower/power transmission lines?
People are concerned about whether radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system cancers. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (low energy) which is a completely different energy than ionizing radiation, the latter found to increase risks of these cancers. Research carried out over many years by different experts in multiple countries using the best designed scientific studies in very large numbers of people show no consistent increase in malignant or benign brain and central nervous system cancers in adults or in children who are heavy users of cell phones. Although the number of cell phone users have greatly increased from the mid-1990s to the present time, the occurrence of these cancers has not increased which again indicate that cell phone use is not related to these cancers.
Will the new 5G cell tower base station affect me?
People are concerned about whether radiation emitted by cell phones may cause brain and central nervous system cancers. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (low energy) which is a completely different energy than ionizing radiation, the latter found to increase risks of these cancers. Research carried out over many years by different experts in multiple countries using the best designed scientific studies in very large numbers of people show no consistent increase in malignant or benign brain and central nervous system cancers in adults or in children who are heavy users of cell phones. Although the number of cell phone users have greatly increased from the mid-1990s to the present time, the occurrence of these cancers has not increased which again indicate that cell phone use is not related to these cancers.