Incidence and Mortality of Malignant Brain Tumors after 20 Years of Mobile Use

2023 · No effect · Low evidence

← Research stream

No effectLow evidencePaper 403

Across 2000–2019 in Taiwan, the number of mobile phone users increased and MNB incidence and death rates showed a slight rise. The authors report a weaker association overall and state that no significant correlation was observed between MNB incidence/deaths …

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typeecological

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Incidence and Mortality of Malignant Brain Tumors after 20 Years of Mobile Use Uddin M, Dhanta R, Pitti T, Barsasella D, Scholl J, Jian WS, Li YJ, Hsu MH, Syed-Abdul S. Incidence and Mortality of Malignant Brain Tumors after 20 Years of Mobile Use. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jul 4;15(13):3492. doi: 10.3390/cancers15133492. Simple Summary This population-based study, spanning 20 years, revealed trends regarding the incidence and mortality due to malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB) in association with mobile phone usage in Taiwan. The findings indicate a trend of increase in the number of mobile phone users over the study period, accompanied by a slight rise in the incidence and death rates of MNB. The compound annual growth rates further support these observations, highlighting consistent growth in mobile phone users and a corresponding increase in MNB incidences and deaths. While this study suggests a weak association between mobile phone users and MNB incidence and mortality, it is important to acknowledge that conclusive results cannot be drawn at this stage. Further investigation is required to obtain more definitive findings. Continued research in this area will contribute to better understanding of the potential risks and aid in the development of safer mobile phone usage practices in the future. Abstract (1) Objective: This population-based study was performed to examine the trends of incidence and deaths due to malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB) in association with mobile phone usage for a period of 20 years (January 2000–December 2019) in Taiwan. (2) Methods: Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and joinpoint regression analysis were used to examine the trends of incidence of MNB and deaths due to MNB in association with mobile phone usage. (3) Results: The findings indicate a trend of increase in the number of mobile phone users over the study period, accompanied by a slight rise in the incidence and death rates of MNB. The compound annual growth rates further support these observations, highlighting consistent growth in mobile phone users and a corresponding increase in MNB incidences and deaths. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest a weaker association between the growing number of mobile phone users and the rising rates of MNB, and no significant correlation was observed between MNB incidences and deaths and mobile phone usage. Ultimately, it is important to acknowledge that conclusive results cannot be drawn at this stage and further investigation is required by considering various other confounding factors and potential risks to obtain more definitive findings and a clearer picture. Conclusions This population-based study, spanning 20 years, revealed trends regarding the incidence of MNB and mortality due to MNB in association with mobile phone usage in Taiwan. The findings indicate trends of increase in the number of mobile phone users over the study period, accompanied by a slight rise in the incidence and death rates of MNB. The compound annual growth rates further support these observations, highlighting the consistent growth in mobile phone users and a corresponding increase in MNB incidences and deaths. These results suggest a weaker association between the growing number of mobile phone users and the rising rates of MNB, and no significant correlation was observed between MNB incidences and deaths and mobile phone usage. In general, the literature in this context is very wide and has mixed reviews, but overall, the literature provides only a little evidence or does not show evidence of the association between mobile phone users and the development of brain tumors and death. Ultimately, it is important to acknowledge that conclusive results cannot be drawn at this stage; therefore, further investigation is required to obtain findings that are more definitive. Considering the potential risks associated with emerging technologies such as 5G, which has higher data transmission rates and frequencies, it is crucial to examine radiation exposure levels and durations when assessing the association between mobile phone usage and cancer. Future research should explore different age groups of mobile phone users and investigate the duration of radiation exposure to gain a better understanding of their potential associations with MNB, as the latency period for brain cancer can range from 10 to 50 years. It is reassuring to know that engineers are actively working on reducing harmful radiation with the advancements of communication technologies. Continued research in this area will contribute to the better understanding of the potential risks and aids in the development of safer mobile phone usage practices in the future. Finally, further in-depth investigations for the other related confounding variables and risk factors that could be involved in the development of MNB are sine qua non for understanding the bigger picture. Open access paper: mdpi.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeecological

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationPopulation-based (Taiwan)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 20 years (January 2000–December 2019)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Incidence of malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB)
Deaths/mortality due to malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB)

Limitations

Ecological/population-level trend analysis; individual-level exposure and outcomes not described in abstract
Potential confounding factors acknowledged; authors state conclusive results cannot be drawn
Exposure characterization limited to number of mobile phone users (no radiation exposure levels, duration per user, or latency handling described)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "ecological",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20 years (January 2000–December 2019)"
  },
  "population": "Population-based (Taiwan)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Incidence of malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB)",
    "Deaths/mortality due to malignant neoplasm of the brain (MNB)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across 2000–2019 in Taiwan, the number of mobile phone users increased and MNB incidence and death rates showed a slight rise. The authors report a weaker association overall and state that no significant correlation was observed between MNB incidence/deaths and mobile phone usage.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Ecological/population-level trend analysis; individual-level exposure and outcomes not described in abstract",
    "Potential confounding factors acknowledged; authors state conclusive results cannot be drawn",
    "Exposure characterization limited to number of mobile phone users (no radiation exposure levels, duration per user, or latency handling described)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone usage",
    "radiofrequency",
    "malignant neoplasm of the brain",
    "brain cancer",
    "incidence",
    "mortality",
    "Taiwan",
    "joinpoint regression",
    "trend analysis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Addresses population-level cancer outcomes in relation to mobile phone use, relevant to major RF health-risk assessments/guidelines."
    },
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Mentions 5G as an emerging technology in conclusions, though the study period is 2000–2019 and exposure is mobile phone users generally."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133492
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library