International Agency Formalizes Cellular Phone Classification as “Possibly Carcinogenic”

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) affirmed its classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by cell phones and other devices as "possibly carcinogenic to humans," following the recommendations of a panel convened two months prior, to assess available information on RF-EMF and cancer. In that exposure to RF-EMF in the frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 GHz is almost unavoidable in a society that is increasingly dependent on electronic devices and equipment that generates RF-EMF, the IARC singled out cell phones for particular attention, based on substantial epidemiologic evidence suggesting a link between cell phone use and various types of brain tumors.