Sharp rise in aggressive brain cancer is linked to mobile phones with cases more than doubling over two decades

• Number of people affected has grown from 983 in 1995 to 2,531 in 2015
• Discovered a rise of glioblastoma multiforme cases across all age groups
• Study has sparked criticism, who argue that rise could be other factors

A sharp rise in the rates of brain cancer has been linked to mobile phone use.

Cases of glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive and often fatal type of brain tumour – have risen in England from 983 in 1995 to 2,531 in 2015. 

Published in the Journal of Public Health and Environment, the study analysed 79,241 malignant brain tumours over 21 years and discovered a rise across all age groups.

Cases of glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive and often fatal type of brain tumour – have risen in England from 983 in 1995 to 2,531 in 2015 (stock image used)

Scientists at the Physicians’ Health Initiative for Radiation and Environment said the increasing rate of tumours ‘raises the suspicion that mobile and cordless phone use may be promoting gliomas’. 

Professor Denis Henshaw of Children with Cancer UK, which is associated with PHIRE spoke about their research.

He told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Our findings illustrate the need to look more carefully at, and to try to explain, the mechanisms behind these cancer trends, instead of brushing the causal factors under the carpet and focusing only on cures.’

Scientists said the increasing rate of tumours ‘raises the suspicion that mobile and cordless phone use may be promoting gliomas’

But the study has sparked criticism from some scientists, who argue that the rise in cases could be caused by other factors.

Cancer Research UK said it was ‘unlikely’ that mobile phones increase the risk of brain tumours.

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