Link Between Cancer and Cell Phone Radiation in Rats Exists, but Still Tenuous

Most people wouldn’t think that holding a radio antenna to your head for hours a day would be a good idea. But it’s exactly what we do with cell phones. And for several decades, researchers have been trying to determine if this is an unhealthy thing to do, particular regarding radio-frequency radiation and cancer. A new study that involved 3,000 lab animals and cost $30 million by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) provides some unsettling results.

In 2016, preliminary data was published in bioRxiv, citing that “The occurrences of two tumor types in male Harlan Sprague Dawley rats exposed to RFR (radiofrequency radiation), malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas of the heart, were considered of particular interest.” The conclusions then were that the radiation had “likely caused” the brain tumors.

Then in February 2018, in a draft report, the NTP seemed to soften their stance on their conclusions. The study, they indicated, seemed to link tumors in the heart to high exposure to phone radiation, but did not occur in female rats or any mice.

The laboratory animals in the study were exposed to radiation nine hours a day for two years. One of the problems for the study is that the levels the rodents were exposed to are much higher than are seen in today’s phones and are more closely aligned with that created by an early generation of cell phones, which is not routinely used anymore.

Per The New York Times, “The lowest level of radiation in the federal study was equal to the maximum exposure that federal regulations allow for cellphone users. That level of exposure rarely occurs in typical cell phone use, the toxicology agency said. The highest level was four times higher than the permitted maximum.”

An 11-member peer-review group in March voted to advise NTP that it should raise the confidence level from “equivocal evidence” to “some evidence” that there is a link between cell phone radiation and brain tumors in male rats.

In the study, approximately two to three percent of the male rats exposed developed malignant gliomas, a deadly brain cancer. In the control group that received no radiation, no rodents developed malignant gliomas. In addition, about five to seven percent of the male rats exposed developed malignant schwannomas, which are heart tumors. Again, none in the control group did.

John Bucher, a senior scientist with NTP, stated, “We believe that the link between radio frequency radiation and tumors in male rats is real, and the external experts agree.”

It’s not as clear in female rats. The report also described the risk of lower body weights among newborn rats and their mothers increased when exposed to high radiation levels during pregnancy and lactation. But they grew to normal size.

Bucher stated, however, “The exposures used in the studies cannot be compared directly to the exposure that humans experience when using a cell phone.”

Another consideration: in the study, rats were exposed to radiation across their entire bodies. Humans generally hold phones to their ears or in their hands, or they carry them in a pocket or bag. The rats’ exposure also began in the womb and the lowest exposure was equivalent to the maximum exposure allowed for cellphone use.

Should people be worried and abandon their cell phones (like that’s going to happen)?

Probably not. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society told USA Today, “The incidence of brain tumors in human beings has been flat for the last 40 years. That is the absolute most important scientific fact.”

It’s also worth noting that most current phones are fourth generation (4G) and 5G will probably hit the market in 2020. They use higher frequencies, which scientists say do not penetrate the bodies of humans and rats as much as lower frequencies.

On the other hand, since people are exposed to potential carcinogens on a daily basis, ranging from sunlight’s UV radiation to chemicals and additives used in our food, as well as carcinogens in the air, cell phone radiation is another factor. Using earbuds to keep the phone further away from your head during long calls and limiting the time children use phones is a good idea. Still, the cancer risk from cell phone use is significantly lower than smoking cigarettes and being obese and not exercising.