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Meningioma patients diagnosed 2007--2009 and the association with use of mobile and cordless phones: a case--control study.

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Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hansson Mild K, Hardell L. · 2013

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Heavy phone users (2,376+ hours total) showed increased meningioma risk, suggesting cumulative wireless exposure may affect brain tumor development.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Swedish researchers studied 709 people with meningiomas (brain tumors that grow on the protective membranes around the brain) to see if mobile and cordless phone use increased their risk. While overall phone use showed no clear link to these tumors, people with the highest usage (over 2,376 hours total) did show some increased risk. The authors concluded there wasn't enough evidence to prove phones cause meningiomas, but noted that longer-term studies are needed.

Why This Matters

This study adds important nuance to our understanding of wireless phones and brain tumor risk. What makes it particularly relevant is the focus on meningiomas, which are among the most common brain tumors and have been increasing in incidence as phone use has grown. The finding that risk appeared elevated only in the highest usage group (over 2,376 hours) suggests a potential dose-response relationship, which strengthens the biological plausibility of a connection. Put simply, 2,376 hours equals about 6.5 hours per week for 7 years, which many heavy phone users today exceed. The reality is that this research, conducted by the independent Hardell group in Sweden, provides yet another piece of evidence suggesting we should take precautionary steps with our wireless device use, especially given that brain tumors can take decades to develop.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To study the association between use of wireless phones and meningioma.

We performed a case-control study on brain tumour cases of both genders aged 18-75 years and diagnos...

In total 709 meningioma cases and 1,368 control subjects answered the questionnaire. Mobile phone us...

No conclusive evidence of an association between use of mobile and cordless phones and meningioma was found. An indication of increased risk was seen in the group with highest cumulative use but was not supported by statistically significant increasing risk with latency. Results for even longer latency periods of wireless phone use than in this study are desirable.

Cite This Study
Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hansson Mild K, Hardell L. (2013). Meningioma patients diagnosed 2007--2009 and the association with use of mobile and cordless phones: a case--control study. Environ Health. 2013 Jul 19;12(1):60.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2013_meningioma_patients_diagnosed_20072009_1956,
  author = {Carlberg M and Söderqvist F and Hansson Mild K and Hardell L.},
  title = {Meningioma patients diagnosed 2007--2009 and the association with use of mobile and cordless phones: a case--control study.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23870102/},
}
PubMed: 23870102

Cited By (33 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2013 Swedish study of 709 meningioma patients found no clear link between cell phone use and these brain tumors. However, people with the highest usage (over 2,376 hours total) showed some increased risk, though researchers concluded more long-term studies are needed.
Research on 709 meningioma cases found cordless phone use didn't significantly increase tumor risk overall. The study showed only a slight statistical increase (OR = 1.1) that wasn't considered meaningful, except possibly in the heaviest users with thousands of hours of exposure.
A major Swedish study found mobile phone radiation doesn't clearly increase meningioma brain tumor risk for typical users. Only the heaviest users (over 2,376 total hours) showed potential increased risk, but researchers said the evidence wasn't conclusive enough to prove causation.
A 2013 study of 709 brain tumor patients found wireless phone radiation doesn't appear harmful for most users. While the heaviest users showed some increased meningioma risk, researchers concluded there wasn't enough evidence to prove phones cause brain tumors.
Swedish researchers studying long-term cell phone users found no conclusive evidence that extended use causes meningiomas. While the highest usage group (over 2,376 hours) showed some increased risk, the study couldn't prove phones actually cause these brain tumors.