25 March 2026
A new study finds no association between occupational exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy (EME) and brain cancer.
Undertaken by Australian and European researchers, the study looked at 467 brain cancer cases and their exposure to RF EME through their work - particularly manufacturing, transport, medical, construction and communications industries.
PhD student from Monash University and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Rohan Mate, led the study.
He says that they estimated how much RF EME participants in the study would have been exposed during their work history based on data provided by two exposure assessment databases.
'Our study uses the most extensive exposure assessment methods to date and classifies RF EME exposure for up to 468 occupations,’ Mr Mate said.
‘When examining participants’ entire work histories, including some who had elevated exposures from frequently using handheld radios or doing plastic welding, we found that there was no increased risk of brain cancer from RF EME exposure.
‘Future research should continue to add to occupational exposure estimates so we can build our knowledge on how much RF EME people are exposed to at work’.
Mr Mate is supervised by a team of researchers, including ARPANSA’s Associate Professor Ken Karipidis.
‘This study should reassure workers with a relatively higher level of RF EME exposure, compared to the general population, that they are safe,’ A/Prof Karipidis said.
‘This study adds to the research that finds no association between RF EME exposure and brain cancer in public or occupational settings.
‘As Australia's primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, we will continue to undertake research to provide accurate and up-to-date advice to government and the public.’
The study was published in the international, peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ: Is occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields associated with glioma risk? An Australian population-based family case–control study
