For as long as we have held mobile phones to our ears, there have been concerns that the radio waves they emit could cause cancer. After more than two decades of widespread use, extensive evidence does not support the idea that mobiles add to radiation risk for the human body.
Recent reviews point to no clear link. In 2023 the World Health Organization released a large-scale systematic review of research from 1994 to 2022 covering 63 studies across 22 countries. The focus was brain cancer and other central nervous system cancers, including gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and pituitary tumours. Despite huge growth in wireless use over the last 20 years, researchers found no corresponding increase in brain cancer risk. Call frequency and duration also showed no association with cancer. Studies likewise reported no increased risk of brain tumours or leukaemia in children exposed to mobile towers or radio and TV transmitters, despite rumours.
Where did the worry start?
The concern grew from a precautionary stance on radiofrequency radiation. In 2011, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exposure to radio waves as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group 2B). That label meant there could be some risk and more monitoring was needed — a better-safe-than-sorry approach. Fourteen years on, the broader evidence base allows a clearer view, and it does not show mobiles increasing cancer risk.
Do mobile phones emit radiation?
Yes, but not the dangerous kind. The latest World Health Organization review confirms that mobiles emit non-ionising radiation, says haematologist and oncologist Dr Daniel Landau. “The more dangerous types, such as those from nuclear material, are ionising,” he explains, and ionising radiation can damage DNA in ways that may lead to cancer. Non-ionising radiation—also produced by microwave ovens—carries too little energy to cause that damage.
So brain cancer from mobile use is unlikely. Landau still suggests limiting the time a phone is held next to the head, noting that studies may not capture every possible risk. “A review like this offers reassurance,” he says, adding that a clear link would probably have emerged by now if one existed.
If you remain concerned, increase distance. Using headphones, earbuds or speakerphone reduces exposure by keeping the handset away from your head, a precaution also recommended by public health guidance.
Bottom Line
Current evidence does not show that mobile phones increase cancer risk. They emit non-ionising radiation, which lacks the energy to damage DNA the way ionising radiation can. Reviews covering decades of data have not found rising brain cancer rates that track with mobile use.
If you want simple precautions, keep distance when you can. Use speakerphone or headphones, swap to texts for quick chats and avoid long calls with the handset to your ear. Prioritise sleep hygiene by parking the phone off the bedside table, and always keep phones out of hands while driving for safety.
If you have ongoing concerns or a medical device such as a pacemaker, ask your GP for tailored advice. Stay guided by reputable health bodies, not rumours, and focus on habits that make a proven difference to long-term health.
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