Abstract

Abstract Summary

Overview

The systematic review focuses on the impact of cell phone radiation, ranging from 450 to 3800 MHz, on thyroid cells and hormones. This includes a comprehensive analysis using multiple electronic databases and manual searches through reference lists to gather relevant studies up until December 2018.

Findings

• Out of 161 initial studies, 22 were included in the final qualitative synthesis, involving 7182 cases in total.
• Several studies indicated alterations in thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), with 11 studies noting hormonal changes such as a decrease in six studies for T3 and five studies showing decreased T4 levels.
• Alterations in Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) were also reported, denoting both increases and decreases.
• Examination of thyroid gland follicles showed a reduction in the volume of these cells in seven studies.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests a possible link between cell phone radiation and structural as well as functional changes in thyroid cells and hormones. There is a concern over reduced iodine uptake and increased temperature effects on the thyroid gland due to radiation exposure. However, further research is emphasized to confirm these findings and understand the exact mechanisms.