France’s health agency doesn’t find link between phone use, cancer

(MENAFN) France’s national health safety agency, ANSES, announced Wednesday that current scientific research does not prove that mobile phone use causes cancer, though it urged continued prudence as exposure increases, especially among children. The agency released a new assessment updating its 2013 and 2016 reports, drawing on 250 of the strongest studies from more than 1,000 recent epidemiological and toxicological publications, including major research efforts such as MOBI-Kids and the US National Toxicology Program.

According to BFM TV, ANSES found that existing evidence “does not establish a causal link between exposure to radiofrequency waves and the development of cancers.” Radiofrequency emissions from mobile phones, connected devices, and broadcast transmitters are now nearly universal, with 98% of French residents aged 12 and older owning a mobile phone.

Olivier Merckel, who heads the agency’s division on risks from physical agents, emphasized that the issue remains significant because exposure begins earlier in life and affects nearly everyone. Some laboratory research has detected short-term cellular changes after exposure to radiofrequency waves, but scientists report these effects disappear once exposure ends.

Animal studies offer only limited indications of potential cancer risks, and expanded human research likewise fails to provide clear evidence linking mobile phone use to cancer, Merckel explained. He noted that while some experimental studies show “small signals,” the broader body of data still does not demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship.

Even so, ANSES reiterated its long-standing advice to minimize direct exposure, particularly for children, who are considered more susceptible than adults.

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