Does cell phone use increase the risk of brain tumors?

The link between mobile phone (cell phone) use and brain tumor risk is a topic of much research and debate. Here is a summary of the current knowledge and findings.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified mobile phones as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (category 2B), which means that more research is needed to determine their cancer-causing potential in humans.

Large epidemiological studies, such as the INTERPHONE study, have found no consistent evidence that mobile phone use increases the risk of brain tumors. Some studies have suggested a small increased risk of certain types of brain tumors, such as glioma, in heavy mobile phone users, but the results are mixed

There is no generally accepted biological mechanism that explains how the radiofrequency energy emitted by mobile phones could cause brain tumors. The type of radiation emitted by mobile phones is non-ionizing, meaning that it does not have enough energy to directly cause DNA damage in the way that ionizing radiation (e.g. X-rays) can.

Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/what-are-the-health-risks-associated-with-mobile-phones-and-their-base-stations

Source: https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/39/3/675/631387

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-09 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025