Relationship between radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation from cellular phones and brain tumor: meta-analyses using various proxies for RF-EMR exposure-outcome assessment
Abstract
Category: Epidemiology Tags: radiofrequency, electromagnetic fields, brain tumor, cell phone use, meta-analysis, long-term exposure, cancer risk URL: go.gale.com Overview This systematic review and meta-analytic study, published in Environmental Health by Moon et al. (2024), investigated the association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from cellular phones and the risk of developing brain tumors. Findings - Significantly elevated risks were found for three types of brain tumors when exploring tumors that occurred on the same side of the head where the phone was used. - Heavy and long-term cell phone use was consistently linked with an increased risk of brain tumors. - This result is in agreement with six other recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses (published between 2016 and 2020), all of which reported significant associations between long-term cellphone use and brain tumor risk. These studies include: Wang & Guo (2016), Bortkiewicz et al. (2017), Carlberg & Hardell (2017), Prasad et al. (2017), Yang et al. (2017), and Choi et al. (2020). Contradictions with Recent WHO Review The findings directly contradict the 2024 WHO systematic review by Karipidis et al., which claimed there is no evidence that cell phone use causes brain cancer. The text highlights concerns regarding the methodology and conclusions of the WHO reviews on RF-EMF health risks. Conclusion - There is mounting epidemiological evidence linking radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from cellular phones to increased risk for brain tumors, especially with heavy and long-term use. - This relationship is robust and supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, warranting consideration for public health and regulatory policy regarding EMF exposure.
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
This systematic review and meta-analysis reports significantly elevated risks for three types of brain tumors when analyses focused on tumors occurring on the same side of the head where the phone was used. It also reports that heavy and long-term cell phone use was consistently linked with increased brain tumor risk, and notes agreement with several prior meta-analyses (2016–2020).
Outcomes measured
- Brain tumor risk
- Tumors on same side of head as phone use (ipsilateral)
Suggested hubs
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cell-phones
(0.95) Focuses on RF-EMR exposure from cellular phones and brain tumor outcomes.
-
who-icnirp
(0.6) Explicitly discusses and contradicts a 2024 WHO systematic review and critiques WHO methodology.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"publication_year": 2024,
"study_type": "meta_analysis",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": "mobile phone",
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": "heavy and long-term use"
},
"population": null,
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"Brain tumor risk",
"Tumors on same side of head as phone use (ipsilateral)"
],
"main_findings": "This systematic review and meta-analysis reports significantly elevated risks for three types of brain tumors when analyses focused on tumors occurring on the same side of the head where the phone was used. It also reports that heavy and long-term cell phone use was consistently linked with increased brain tumor risk, and notes agreement with several prior meta-analyses (2016–2020).",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [],
"evidence_strength": "high",
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"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"stance": "concern",
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"summary": "Moon et al. (2024) report a systematic review and meta-analysis on cellular phone RF-EMR and brain tumor risk. The abstract summary states elevated risks for three brain tumor types in analyses considering ipsilateral (same-side) phone use and reports increased risk with heavy and long-term use. The text also highlights disagreement with the 2024 WHO review and raises methodological concerns about WHO conclusions.",
"key_points": [
"Study design is described as a systematic review and meta-analysis of cellular phone RF-EMR and brain tumor risk.",
"The report states significantly elevated risks for three brain tumor types when focusing on tumors on the same side of the head as phone use.",
"Heavy and long-term cell phone use is described as consistently linked with increased brain tumor risk.",
"The report claims consistency with six prior systematic reviews/meta-analyses published between 2016 and 2020.",
"The text explicitly contrasts its conclusions with the 2024 WHO systematic review that reported no evidence of causation.",
"The abstract summary frames the evidence as mounting and relevant for public health and regulatory policy considerations."
],
"categories": [
"Epidemiology",
"Cancer",
"Mobile Phones"
],
"tags": [
"Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields",
"Cell Phone Use",
"Brain Tumor",
"Cancer Risk",
"Long-Term Exposure",
"Heavy Use",
"Ipsilateral Use",
"Systematic Review",
"Meta-Analysis",
"WHO Review Critique",
"Exposure Assessment Proxies"
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"keywords": [
"radiofrequency",
"electromagnetic fields",
"brain tumor",
"cell phone use",
"meta-analysis",
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"cancer risk"
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"social": {
"tweet": "Moon et al. (2024) systematic review/meta-analysis reports elevated brain tumor risks in analyses of ipsilateral phone use and links heavy, long-term cell phone use with increased risk, contrasting with the 2024 WHO review.",
"facebook": "A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis (Moon et al., Environmental Health) reports increased brain tumor risk associated with heavy and long-term cell phone use, including elevated risks in analyses of tumors on the same side of the head as phone use, and discusses differences from the 2024 WHO review.",
"linkedin": "Moon et al. (2024) in Environmental Health report a systematic review and meta-analysis suggesting increased brain tumor risk with heavy and long-term mobile phone use, including elevated risks in ipsilateral-use analyses, and they contrast their conclusions with the 2024 WHO systematic review."
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}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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