Can using your cell phone give you brain cancer?

Is using a cell phone harmful to your health? In the first of a two-parter, Risk Bites looks at the chances of your cell phone giving you brain cancer (spoiler alert: not a lot). Next time -- the more worrisome risk of your phone placing you in a life or death situation.

Note: The video refers to the World Health Organization review of cell phones and potential to cause cancer that was released in 2011. This study was conducted by the International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC) -- IARC is a WHO specialized agency.

This week's Risk Bites team:
David Faulkner (Script, post-production)
Andrew Maynard (all the other stuff)

Useful resources:

Carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Baan et al.
The Lancet Oncology (2011) Volume 12, Issue 7, Pages 624-626

Risk Bites is supported by the Arizona State University Risk Innovation Lab and School for the Future of Innovation in Society

Risk Bites is your guide to making sense of risk. We cover everything from understanding and balancing the risks and benefits of everyday products, to health science more broadly, to the potential impacts of emerging technologies, to making sense of risk perception. If you enjoy our videos, please subscribe, and spread the word!

[amozoness]

depends on how near you hold it, how bright, and for how long you stare. you could say the same of the sun, the horizon, books, or your computer monitor.

[ujwal]

Your video is taken into the LEAD, an educational app. Congratulations 🤗🤗.

[hristobeltran]

This is definetely going to help me in my essay. Thanks.!

[VandersonT_]

HAHAHAHAHAHA, loved the format of this vid. Thanks for the easy digest info :)

[mariasaraiva]

Riskbites have been wonderfull tool to help in teaching epidemiology to my students! This is marvelous!

[littlekitty]

everything has a limit . not to use 24 into 7. minimum use of cell phone is ok. like 1 hour per day 4 hours a week. and 3 other day is holiday relax and rest.

[GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13

[AndrewTheChannel]

Whenever I watch American youtubers drive, I'm astounded that they aren't afraid they'll get pulled over. Then I remember its only Canada that made using your phone while driving illegal. To me its just silly not to have that law.

[mukeshshenai]

Hi there, I was just curious, How much did a Smart phone manufacturing company pay you for making and uploading this video on the Youtube. please do not misguide people. but your video is technically made very marketable and of good quality i must admit.

[simtonicc]

Well I’m watching this on a cell phone so technically I shouldn’t be watching this 😂 but it’s a smartphone

[riskbites]

@Yuoskalola - if you have legitimate reports, send me the links and I'll add them to the extensive list of reports above if they appear credible.

[friebender]

What about the myth that handies make you impotant, when you wear them in your pocket for a periode of time? Is that one true?

[thedude]

If you've done so much research, then perhaps you should present that information instead of bellowing and swearing.

Or perhaps you've forgotten the function the "Caps lock" key, in which case, you might do well to do "much research" on how to turn it off.

[GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. -John 3:16

[andyi]

Utter rubbish _ how much are they paying you?