🇬🇧 UK National Register of RF Workers Shows Excess Skin Cancer in Telecom and Broadcasting Workers

Mar 25, 2026 (EMFS)

Mar 19, 2026 (original)

A preliminary analysis of 1,777 UK telecom and broadcast workers occupationally exposed to RF found overall cancer rates slightly below expectation, but a statistically significant excess of non-melanoma skin cancer (SRR 177, P < 0.01). The author attributes the excess to UV exposure from outdoor work.

"There is a broadly acknowledged need for more robust research exploring the potential health effects of occupational radiofrequency radiation (RF) exposure."

— Litchfield, Int J Hyg Environ Health

"The only statistically significant finding is for an excess of skin cancer (excluding melanoma) (Observed 25, SRR 177, 95% CI 117 to 258, P < 0.01)."

— Litchfield, Int J Hyg Environ Health

"Amongst legitimate concerns over the health effects of long-term occupational exposure to RF in the telecommunication and broadcast sector it is important not to overlook the significant hazard of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in a workforce that predominantly works outside."

— Litchfield, Int J Hyg Environ Health

Source

Cancer incidence in telecommunication and broadcasting workers in the United Kingdom: Preliminary analysis of the National Register of RF Workers pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

📄 Underlying Research

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health Journal Level 2ⓘ

🔗 DOI 📚 PubMed

🇬🇧 UK National Register of RF Workers Shows Excess Skin Cancer in Telecom and Broadcasting Workers

Source

📄 Underlying Research

More on this topic