A World Health Organization (WHO)-commissioned systematic review published in Environment International finds no association between radio wave exposure and various cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid and oral cavity cancers.
This systematic review was led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s (ARPANSA) Associate Professor Ken Karipidis.
This is the second WHO-commissioned systematic review he has led which has looked at the association between mobile phones and cancer. The first systematic review, published last year, looked at the association between mobile phones and brain and other head cancers and found no link.
A/Prof Karipidis says the current systematic review assesses all the available evidence on the association between mobile phones, mobile phone towers and occupational exposure to various cancers.
“We considered all other cancers, but we could only properly assess the association between radio waves and leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid and oral cavity cancers,” A/Prof Karipidis said.
“While this systematic review did not find an association between radio wave exposure and various cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid, and oral cavity cancers we can’t be as certain of these results compared to the previous systematic review on brain cancers,” he said.
“This is because there is not as much evidence on the association between these cancers and exposure to radio waves from wireless technology. Other cancers have not been researched as extensively over as long a period, and the results have not been replicated by scientists in as many papers compared to studies on brain cancers and mobile phones.
“As the Australian Government’s primary radiation protection authority, ARPANSA will continue to undertake research and assess all the available scientific evidence that underpins its radio wave exposure standard and public health advice.”
ARPANSA research scientist Rohan Mate also contributed to this study.
“This systematic review considered over 5000 studies and included 26 studies in the final analysis’ Mr. Mate said. “Occasionally we get questions from the public about the association between wireless technology and cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
“It’s great that we now have this comprehensive review to add to the body of knowledge to inform the public about wireless technology and cancer.”
The WHO is currently preparing an updated assessment on the health effects from radio wave exposure.
That assessment, which will be published as an Environmental Health Criterion Monograph, will draw on this systematic review and others commissioned by the WHO.
More information:
Ken Karipidis et al, The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies—Part II: Less researched outcomes, Environment International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109274
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Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
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Study adds to evidence that mobile phones are not associated with cancer (2025, February 3)
retrieved 3 February 2025
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