Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Brain Tumours: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

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This was a meta-analysis of 8 case-control and 2 cohort studies investigating the relationship between wireless (mobile and cordless) phone use and risk of adult glioma. Overall, there was no statistically significant association between adult glioma and wireless phone use (odds ratio (OR) of 1.03 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.92-1.16). When long-term wireless phone use was examined independently, a significant association with adult glioma was found (OR of 1.33 with a 95% CI of 1.05 – 1.67). However, there was inconsistency in the results of the studies included in the meta-analysis. The authors concluded that wireless phone use was not significantly associated with risk of adult glioma, but there could be increased risk in long-term users.

Wireless Phone Use and Risk of Adult Glioma: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

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Since the 2010 interphone study, there has been a number of meta-analyses and other case-control studies examining the evidence of a possible association between wireless phone use and the risk of brain tumours, particularly gliomas. Overall, these examinations do not show an increased risk of glioma. However, the evidence for an increased risk of glioma for heavy mobile phone users is not clear and further research is needed to clarify these results. The results reported by the authors of this study are in-line with the current state of the science and ARPANSA’s current advice on mobile phone use.