Smartphones and Cancer Risk: An Update from ANSES
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Published: 2025/11/26 22:12:08
In 2025, with nearly 98% of French people aged 12 and over owning a mobile phone – and 91% a smartphone – the debate surrounding the risks linked to radio frequency waves persists. Today,the national health security agency (ANSES) publishes an update of its expertise on the effects of radiofrequency waves,focusing on the risk of cancer.
No, Smartphones Do not Cause Cancer
In a report published on November 26, ANSES updates its previous assessments (2013 for adults, 2016 for children). The approach was exhaustive: over a thousand studies were reviewed, including the most robust (around 250), covering epidemiology, animal experiments, and cellular analyses.
After this thorough work,the Agency concludes: current mobile phone use is not associated with a documented cancer risk. In a press release accompanying this new analysis, the Agency states:
“In these new studies, limited evidence of effects of waves on cellular and animal mechanisms“
What the Studies Show
the ANSES report clarifies that while some studies suggest potential biological effects from radiofrequency waves, these effects don’t directly translate to an increased cancer risk. The evidence remains limited and inconsistent.
Specifically, the agency examined potential links to:
- Brain tumors: no consistent association was found between mobile phone use and the growth of brain tumors.
- Acoustic neuromas: Similar to brain tumors, the evidence for a link to acoustic neuromas remains inconclusive.
- Childhood leukemia: studies investigating a potential link between radiofrequency exposure and childhood leukemia have not established a causal relationship.
Areas of ongoing Research
Despite the current findings, ANSES emphasizes the importance of continued research.Areas of focus include:
- Long-term effects: The long-term effects of prolonged mobile phone use are still not fully understood.
- Specific populations: Research is needed to assess potential risks for vulnerable populations, such as children.
- New technologies: The impact of emerging technologies, like 5G, requires further investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Current scientific evidence does not support a link between smartphone use and cancer.
- ANSES reviewed over 1,000 studies to reach this conclusion.
- Ongoing research is crucial to monitor potential long-term effects and assess new technologies.
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