Mobile phone use and brain tumour risk – COSMOS, a prospective cohort study

Authors: Feychting M, Schüz J, Toledano MB, Vermeulen R, Auvinen A, Poulsen AH, Deltour I, Smith RB, Heller J, Kromhout H, Huss A, Johansen C, Tettamanti G, Elliott P

Year: 2024

Category: Epidemiology

Journal: Environment International

Institution: Environment International

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108552

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001387

Abstract

Overview

The Cohort Study on Mobile Phones and Health (COSMOS) aims to address potential carcinogenic risks from mobile phone use, specifically investigating the long-term effects of heavy usage against the backdrop of concerns about radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).

Methods

  • Participants from Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK were recruited between 2007 and 2012.
  • Mobile phone use was assessed via baseline questionnaires, and participants were tracked through cancer registers to identify cases of glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma.
  • Data adjustment was done using regression calibration methods to account for non-differential exposure misclassification, using both self-reported and operator-recorded data.

Findings

The study followed 264,574 participants over 1,836,479 person-years. Median follow-up was 7.12 years during which cases of glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma were documented. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) suggest no significant increase in risk associated with cumulative mobile phone use.

Specific Statistics:

  • Hazard Ratio for glioma per 100 hours of call-time: 1.00 (95% CI 0.98-1.02).
  • For long-term users (>15 years), the HR for glioma was 0.97.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that there is no increased risk of developing glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma from cumulative mobile phone use.

mobile phone brain tumour carcinogenicity COSMOS study radiofrequency electromagnetic fields cohort study
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