The INTERPHONE study from 2010, one of the largest studies to date on the subject of cell phone use and brain tumors, was coordinated by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and carried out in 13 countries. The aim of the study was to find out whether the use of cell phones can increase the risk of certain tumors in the head area. The focus was on gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and parotid tumors.
The most important results of the study show that no clear link was found between the normal use of cell phones and an increased risk of gliomas or meningiomas. However, there was a slightly increased risk of glioma among heavy users, i.e. people who used their cell phone for at least 30 minutes a day over a period of about ten years. However, the researchers pointed out that biases such as participants’ memory errors could have influenced this result. For acoustic neuromas and parotid tumors, the study found no clear evidence of an increased risk due to cell phone use.
However, the INTERPHONE study also has some methodological weaknesses. These include, above all, memory distortions, as the participants had to provide precise information on their cell phone use over a long period of time, which can lead to inaccuracies. In addition, data was only collected up to 2004, meaning that the results are not necessarily transferable to today’s smartphone use. The different participation rates between people with the disease and healthy controls could also have influenced the results.
Despite these limitations, the INTERPHONE study came to the conclusion that no clear causal link between cell phone use and brain tumors could be established. Nevertheless, the researchers could not completely rule out a slightly increased risk of gliomas in frequent users. Based on these and other studies, the WHO classified mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group 2B) in 2011, which means that a risk cannot be proven, but also cannot be ruled out.
For everyday life, this means that although there is no immediate cause for concern, it still makes sense to take precautions to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation – especially if you use your phone frequently. This includes, for example, the use of hands-free devices or headsets, making calls via loudspeakers and avoiding calls when reception is poor, as the transmission power of the cell phone increases in such situations. Carrying the cell phone away from the body can also help to reduce personal exposure to radiation.
In summary, the INTERPHONE study does not provide any clear evidence of an increased risk from cell phone use, but does point to possible risks associated with intensive use. Although the data does not prove an acute health risk, it makes sense to implement simple measures in everyday life to minimize your own exposure – true to the precautionary principle.
