Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Cancer & Tumors107 citations
Elliott P et al, (June 2010) Mobile phone base stations and early childhood cancers: case-control study, BMJ
No Effects Found
Authors not listed · 2010
Large British study found no increased childhood cancer risk from cell tower proximity during pregnancy.
Plain English Summary
Summary written for general audiences
British researchers examined whether pregnant mothers living near cell phone towers had children with higher cancer rates. They compared 1,397 children diagnosed with cancer before age 5 to 5,588 healthy children, finding no difference in cancer risk based on proximity to cell towers. This large-scale study found no link between cell tower radiation during pregnancy and childhood cancers.
Cite This Study
Unknown (2010). Elliott P et al, (June 2010) Mobile phone base stations and early childhood cancers: case-control study, BMJ.
Show BibTeX
@article{elliott_p_et_al_june_2010_mobile_phone_base_stations_and_early_childhood_cancers_case_control_study_bmj_ce1172,
author = {Unknown},
title = {Elliott P et al, (June 2010) Mobile phone base stations and early childhood cancers: case-control study, BMJ},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1136/bmj.c3077},
}Quick Questions About This Study
This large British study of nearly 7,000 children found no increased cancer risk for children whose mothers lived near cell towers during pregnancy. Cancer rates were identical regardless of tower proximity or radiation levels.
The average distance was about 1,100 meters (roughly two-thirds of a mile) from cell towers for both cancer cases and healthy controls. The study found no difference in cancer rates at any distance.
Researchers examined brain and central nervous system cancers, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children under age 5. None showed increased rates linked to cell tower exposure during pregnancy.
The study used a national database of 76,890 cell tower antennas across Great Britain from 1996-2001, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of tower proximity and health effects.
No, cell towers produce much weaker radiation exposure than personal devices. Your cell phone against your head creates exposures thousands of times higher than distant cell towers due to proximity and power differences.