Cell phones and cancer risk: What you need to know

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The link between cell phone waves and cancer risk is controversial. Studies on this issue have spanned many years with conflicting results. Therefore, up to this point, there is no consensus on the cancer risk associated with cell phone use.

1. Results from studies

The development of brain tumors due to exposure to mobile phone waves can be considered a major concern. Some studies have shown a slight increase in brain tumor rates since the 1970s, but cell phones were still out of use in the 1970s. Instead, this time period has seen an increase in many other factors potentially involved, such as increased population access to medical care and improvements in diagnostic imaging.
A study that followed more than 420,000 cell phone users over a 20-year period, experts found no evidence of a link between handsets and brain tumors. Another study found a link between cell phones and salivary gland cancer. However, only a small number of volunteers participating in the study had melanoma. Another study found an increased risk of glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor) for cell phone abusers, but the overall brain tumor risk remained unchanged.
After evaluating several studies on the link between cell phones and gliomas and a benign brain tumor (auditory glioma 8), members of the Cancer Research Agency International Letters - of the World Health Organization, agrees that: "There is little evidence that cell phone radiation is a carcinogenic agent".

However, the series of studies above cannot confirm the exact answer. It often takes years of exposure to a cancer-causing agent to see an increase in the incidence of diseases, such as tobacco and lung cancer. At this point, it may still be too little time to detect the increase in cancer rates caused by cell phone use.
Currently, no one knows if cell phones are capable of causing cancer. Although long-term studies are still underway, to date there is no convincing evidence that cell phone use increases cancer risk. If you're concerned about the health risks, consider limiting smartphone use. Using speakerphone to keep the phone away from the head is also a good idea to consider.

2. The effects of cell phone waves

A newly published study says that the electromagnetic waves of wireless devices can cause metabolic imbalance in users, leading to many health risks. This condition is also known as oxidative stress due to constant exposure to radiation waves from cell phones.
Cell phone waves are not like cigarette smoke because they are invisible, colorless, and tasteless, so they silently penetrate the body and can cause long-term bad effects that humans rarely found. Previously, the human living environment had very few electromagnetic waves. But because every new device produced emits this type of wave, the electromagnetic wave density today is many times higher than natural levels and is constantly increasing out of control.
Currently, the world is especially interested in the relationship between mobile radiation frequency and health, especially when 5G networks operate at higher frequency waves than 4G. According to experts, human health will be safe when exposed to radiation between 300 kHz - 100 GHz (5G networks operate in the range of more than 25 GHz - less than 100 GHz).
Although it is still within the safe range, caution should be exercised when exposed to mobile phone waves for a long time in susceptible individuals, such as children and cancer gene carriers:
Results a A US study found that the risk of thyroid cancer is particularly increased due to the effects of cell phone radiation in people with a genetic variant in the gene. Teens and children who use cell phones from an early age are more susceptible to damage due to their small heads, more fluid brains (high brain conductivity) and thinner skulls than adults. According to pediatricians, the brain cells of young children are in the developing stage, the greater the impact of mobile phones. Not only should children not be allowed to use cell phones, but caregivers must also avoid listening to or charging phones next to infants. Mothers often use phones near babies, which is also one of the reasons why babies cry and grow slowly, affecting intelligence.
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Thus, although current epidemiological evidence has not shown a link between cell phone waves and cancer risk, scientists continue to study the effects of electromagnetic radiation on humans, It also warns of risks to children and people at high risk of developing tumors.

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References: Mayoclinic.org