Trends in Malignant and Benign Brain Tumor Incidence and Mobile Phone Use in the U.S. (2000-2021): A SEER-Based Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2025 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 2602

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2025

Study typeecological

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Epidemiology Tags: brain tumors, mobile phone use, SEER data, cancer incidence, benign tumors, malignant tumors, epidemiology DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22060933 URL: mdpi.com Overview There has been an ongoing concern for several decades that radiofrequencies emitted from mobile phones are related to brain cancer risks. This study investigates temporal trends in both malignant and benign brain tumor incidence rates among adults and children in the U.S., comparing these against trends in mobile phone subscriptions. Methods - Utilized Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER 22) cancer database spanning 2000 to 2021. - Calculated age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) per 100,000 people. - Assessed annual percentage change (APC) for malignant and benign brain cancers and vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas of the 8th cranial nerve). - Plotted the total number of mobile phone subscriptions in the United States for 1985-2024. Findings - APC for malignant tumors in adolescents and adults was -0.6 (p = 0.0004). - APC for temporal lobe tumors was -0.06 (p = 0.551). - APC for benign tumors was 1.9 (p = 0.00003), reflecting a measurable increase over time. - APC for benign acoustic neuroma was 0.09 (p = 0.8237), suggesting no association with mobile phone use for this specific tumor type. - During the study period, cell phone subscriptions increased 1,200-fold. Conclusion These findings suggest that mobile phone use does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of brain cancer, whether malignant or benign, based on U.S. population-based data. Continued surveillance is recommended, given the notable increases in incidence rates for certain benign tumors and the long latency period potentially associated with tumor development.

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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

PopulationAdults and children in the U.S. (SEER 22 population-based data)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · Mobile phone subscriptions trend plotted for 1985–2024; cancer incidence assessed 2000–2021

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using SEER 22 data (2000–2021), malignant brain tumor incidence in adolescents and adults decreased (APC -0.6; p=0.0004), while benign brain tumor incidence increased (APC 1.9; p=0.00003). Temporal lobe tumors showed no significant change (APC -0.06; p=0.551) and benign acoustic neuroma showed no significant change (APC 0.09; p=0.8237), despite a 1,200-fold increase in U.S. mobile phone subscriptions over the period examined.

Outcomes measured

Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of malignant brain tumors
Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of benign brain tumors
Vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) incidence
Temporal lobe tumor incidence
Annual percentage change (APC) in incidence rates

Limitations

Ecological comparison of population-level incidence trends with mobile phone subscription trends (no individual-level exposure assessment).
No mobile phone RF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, SAR, call-time/use patterns).
Sample size not reported in abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "ecological",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Mobile phone subscriptions trend plotted for 1985–2024; cancer incidence assessed 2000–2021"
  },
  "population": "Adults and children in the U.S. (SEER 22 population-based data)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of malignant brain tumors",
    "Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of benign brain tumors",
    "Vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) incidence",
    "Temporal lobe tumor incidence",
    "Annual percentage change (APC) in incidence rates"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using SEER 22 data (2000–2021), malignant brain tumor incidence in adolescents and adults decreased (APC -0.6; p=0.0004), while benign brain tumor incidence increased (APC 1.9; p=0.00003). Temporal lobe tumors showed no significant change (APC -0.06; p=0.551) and benign acoustic neuroma showed no significant change (APC 0.09; p=0.8237), despite a 1,200-fold increase in U.S. mobile phone subscriptions over the period examined.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Ecological comparison of population-level incidence trends with mobile phone subscription trends (no individual-level exposure assessment).",
    "No mobile phone RF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, SAR, call-time/use patterns).",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "brain tumors",
    "mobile phone use",
    "SEER",
    "cancer incidence",
    "benign tumors",
    "malignant tumors",
    "epidemiology",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "vestibular schwannoma",
    "temporal trends"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study compares U.S. brain tumor incidence trends with mobile phone subscription trends."
    }
  ]
}

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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/ijerph22060933
PubMed: Not supplied

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