Cell Phone Radio Frequency Radiation

Mobile phone radiation is indeed a concern for some people due to its potential impact on health. However, it is important to remember that the health effects of mobile phone radiation are still being debated in scientific circles, and the research that is currently available is not fully conclusive.

Mobile phone emit low levels of non-ionizing radiation when in use. The type of radiation emitted by mobile phone is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As the National Cancer Institute states, there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases the risk of cancer in humans. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation in humans is heating of exposed body tissue area.

There are two main reasons why people are concerned that cell (or mobile) phones might have the potential to cause certain types of cancer or other health problems: Cell phones emit radiation (in the form of radiofrequency radiation, or radio waves), and cell phone use is widespread. Even a small increase in cancer risk from cell phones would be of concern given how many people use them.

Brain and central nervous system cancers have been of particular concern because hand-held phones are used close to the head and because ionizing radiation—a higher energy form of radiation than what cell phones emit—has been found to cause some brain cancers. Many different kinds of studies have been carried out to try to investigate whether cell phone use is dangerous to human health.

Cell phones emit radiation in the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Second-, third-, and fourth-generation cell phones (2G, 3G, 4G) emit radiofrequency in the frequency range of 0.7–2.7 GHz. Fifth-generation (5G) cell phones are anticipated to use the frequency spectrum up to 80 GHz.

These frequencies all fall in the nonionizing range of the spectrum, which is low frequency and low energy. The energy is too low to damage DNA. By contrast, ionizing radiation, which includes x-rays, radon, and cosmic rays, is high frequency and high energy. Energy from ionizing radiation can damage DNA. DNA damage can cause changes to genes that may increase the risk of cancer.

The human body does absorb energy from devices that emit radiofrequency radiation. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation absorption in humans that the general public might encounter is heating to the area of the body where a cell phone is held (e.g., the ear and head). However, that heating is not sufficient to measurably increase core body temperature. There are no other clearly established dangerous health effects on the human body from radiofrequency radiation.

We often hold our phones to our heads, or keep them close by in pockets or bags. Some people are worried that the radiation from mobile phones can cause cancer, especially brain cancer. Or that keeping phones in a bra will lead to breast cancer.

But the type of radiation that mobile phones and phone masts use doesn’t have enough energy to cause cancer by damaging DNA.

Using mobile phones does not increase your risk of cancer.

Mobiles use a type of electromagnetic radiation called radiofrequency radiation (radio waves). It's a weak form of radiation, the same type that radios, televisions and microwave ovens produce. Radio waves do not have enough energy to damage DNA. So there’s no good explanation for how radio waves could cause cancer.

Some studies claim that mobile phones could increase cancer risk. But a lot of these studies are in animals, and some use unrealistically high levels of radiation. So they cannot reliably tell us about cancer risk from mobile phones in the real world.

When looking at the biggest studies of people and mobiles there is no consistent association between mobile phone use and cancer. Overall, there’s no reliable evidence from studies of people that mobile phones increase the risk of cancer.

There are many myths, questions and hot topics when it comes to cancer risk. But thanks to decades of research into preventing cancer, we know proven ways you can lower your risk.

These include not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, staying safe in the sun, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy, balanced diet.