Mobile phone use and glioma risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveMany studies have previously investigated the potential association between mobile phone use and the risk of glioma. However, results from these individual studies are inconclusive and controversial. The objective of our study was to investigate the potential association between mobile phone use and subsequent glioma risk using meta-analysis.MethodsWe performed a systematic search of the Science Citation Index Embase and PubMed databases for studies reporting relevant data on mobile phone use and glioma in 1980–2016. The data were extracted and measured in terms of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses were also carried out. This meta-analysis eventually included 11 studies comprising a total 6028 cases and 11488 controls.ResultsThere was a significant positive association between long-term mobile phone use (minimum, 10 years) and glioma (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.08–1.91). And there was a significant positive association between long-term ipsilateral mobile phone use and the risk of glioma (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.12–1.92). Long-term mobile phone use was associated with 2.22 times greater odds of low-grade glioma occurrence (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.69–2.92). Mobile phone use of any duration was not associated with the odds of high-grade glioma (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.92). Contralateral mobile phone use was not associated with glioma regardless of the duration of use. Similarly, this association was not observed when the analysis was limited to high-grade glioma.ConclusionsOur results suggest that long-term mobile phone use may be associated with an increased risk of glioma. There was also an association between mobile phone use and low-grade glioma in the regular use or long-term use subgroups. However, current evidence is of poor quality and limited quantity. It is therefore necessary to conduct large sample, high quality research or better characterization of any potential association between long-term ipsilateral mobile phone use and glioma risk.

Mobile phones, cordless phones and rates of brain tumors in different age groups in the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Swedish Cancer Register during 1998-2015

“…We concluded that all nine viewpoints seemed to be fulfilled. This conclusion was corroborated in a recent meta-analysis [ 6 ]. Thus, RF radiation should be regarded to cause glioma.…”

Health hazards with electromagnetic radiation

“…[30,31] Yang et al also studied the potential association between use of mobile phone and subsequent glioma risk and reported that, long-term mobile phone use might increase the risk of glioma (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.08-1.91). [32] In CERENAT, exposure to radiofrequency EMR from Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephones (DECTs) was not evaluated, and if exposures to DECT phones could have been taken into account, it will be likely higher the risk of glioma from mobile phone use in CERENAT that published. Hence, this study later conclude that radiofrequency fields should be classified as Group 2A ("probable human carcinogen") under the criteria used by IRAC.…”

Analyses of temporal and spatial patterns of glioblastoma multiforme and other brain cancer subtypes in relation to mobile phones using synthetic counterfactuals

“…Although both the incidence of certain types of brain cancers (Khurana et al, 2009, de Vocht et al, 2011, Zada et al, 2012, Yang et al, 2017 and use of mobile phones (and other wireless technology) (Khurana et al, 2009) have been increasing over the last 2 decades, and despite extensive research it remains unclear whether this is a question of causation or correlation (Sienkiewicz et al, 2017). Based on all available evidence at the time, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in 2011 that exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RF) in the frequency range 30 kHz to 300 GHz, which includes the frequencies used by mobile phones (Cardis et al, 2011), should be classified as 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) taking into account positive associations between glioma and acoustic neuroma, and exposure to RF-EMF from wireless phones (Baan et al, 2011).…”