Since the year 2000, the U.S. has experienced significant increases in the age-adjusted incidence rates of salivary gland cancer.
The tumor incidence rate data are from the SEER 22 Registry which covers 48% of the total U.S. population. The
data were age-adjusted to the population in the year 2000 so observed
differences over time are not affected by changes in the age composition
of the population.
Whereas the size of the population in the U.S. increased 18% between 2000 and 2022, the number of cases of salivary gland cancer reported in the National Cancer Institute's SEER 22 registry increased by 52%.
Reference: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics
[Internet]. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute;
2025 Apr 16. [cited 2025 Jun 7]. Available from: https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/. Data source(s): SEER Incidence Data, November 2024 Submission (1975-2022), SEER 21 registries.
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Impact of mobile phone-emitted non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on parotid gland function: A comprehensive study
Abstract
Background and Objective The rapid proliferation of mobile technology has intensified debates on the potential adverse effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (NIER) from mobile phones on various human organs and cells. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mobile phone-emitted NIER on parotid gland function.
Methodology This cross-sectional study included 104 student volunteers from the University campus, categorized based on their mobile phone usage and exposure duration. Saliva samples were collected from the dominant (test) and non-dominant (control) sides. Key metrics measured were salivary flow rate, pH, albumin, Ischemia-Modified Albumin (IMA), and the IMA/albumin ratio (IMAR). Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD multiple comparisons, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results The salivary flow rate and pH were higher on both sides in all groups, correlating with increased mobile phone usage duration. Although albumin levels were lower on the dominant side, they increased with longer mobile phone use. Salivary IMA and IMAR were higher on the dominant side in subjects using mobile phones for ≤3 years compared to those using them for >3 years.
Interpretation and Conclusion Consistent exposure to NIER and the heat generated by mobile phones adversely affects parotid gland function, as indicated by increased salivary flow rate, pH, and altered levels of albumin, IMA, and IMAR. Public health recommendations should encourage reducing long-duration conversations and using earphones to minimize NIER exposure. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of NIER on parotid gland function.https://journals.sagepub.com/
Jacob RA, Jose M, Pai VR, Kalal BS. Impact of mobile phone-emitted
non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on parotid gland function: A
comprehensive study. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/09246479251342488.
Abstract
Background and Objective The rapid proliferation of mobile technology has intensified debates on the potential adverse effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (NIER) from mobile phones on various human organs and cells. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mobile phone-emitted NIER on parotid gland function.
Methodology This cross-sectional study included 104 student volunteers from the University campus, categorized based on their mobile phone usage and exposure duration. Saliva samples were collected from the dominant (test) and non-dominant (control) sides. Key metrics measured were salivary flow rate, pH, albumin, Ischemia-Modified Albumin (IMA), and the IMA/albumin ratio (IMAR). Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD multiple comparisons, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results The salivary flow rate and pH were higher on both sides in all groups, correlating with increased mobile phone usage duration. Although albumin levels were lower on the dominant side, they increased with longer mobile phone use. Salivary IMA and IMAR were higher on the dominant side in subjects using mobile phones for ≤3 years compared to those using them for >3 years.
Interpretation and Conclusion Consistent exposure to NIER and the heat generated by mobile phones adversely affects parotid gland function, as indicated by increased salivary flow rate, pH, and altered levels of albumin, IMA, and IMAR. Public health recommendations should encourage reducing long-duration conversations and using earphones to minimize NIER exposure. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of NIER on parotid gland function.https://journals.sagepub.com/
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Does Radiofrequency Radiation From
Mobile Phones Affect the Formation of Parotid Gland Malignancy? An
Experimental Study
Ozergin Coskun Z, Tumkaya L, Yilmaz A, Dursun
E, Mercantepe T, Kalkan Y, Ersoz S. Does Radiofrequency Radiation From
Mobile Phones Affect the Formation of Parotid Gland Malignancy? An
Experimental Study. Ear Nose Throat J. 2024 Sep 27:1455613241287295.
doi: 10.1177/01455613241287295.
Abstract
Objectives: The use of mobile phone is increasing around the
world. Although it is beneficial in terms of communication, the
electromagnetic radiations emitted by mobile phones may cause
undesirable biological effects on the human body. In practical use, the
tissue with which mobile phones come into most and are closest is the
parotid gland. This study investigated the effects of the 1800 MHz
electromagnetic field created by a generator on the parotid gland in
rats.
Methods: A total of 21 Sprague-Dawley Albino rats were
included in the study. The rats were randomly divided into three equal
groups. To simulate a mobile phone in conversation mode, the first study
group was exposed to an 1800-MHz electromagnetic field for 6 hours a
day for 30 days, and the second study group was exposed to an 1800-MHz
electromagnetic field for 12 hours a day for 30 days. After 30 days,
rats were sacrificed, and histopathological and immunohistochemical
methods were used to evaluate the effects on the parotid gland. The
total antioxidant level and the total oxidant level were measured
biochemically in homogenized parotid tissue.
Results:
Histopathological results showed an increase in degeneration in rats
exposed to electromagnetic fields for 6 and 12 hours a day, and
immunohistochemical analysis showed an increase in the apoptotic index
in both study groups (P = .001, P < .001). Intranuclear inclusions was observed during histopathological examination performed by electron microscopy.
Conclusions:
This study observed that the 1800 MHz electromagnetic field caused
undesirable adverse histopathological and biochemical effects on the
parotid gland of rats. Histopathological and biochemical findings were
detected with increasing contact and exposure time. This study will lead
to other studies on this topic and contribute to the literature by
completing other studies.
Excerpts
This study used a generator (Anritsu MG3670 B
type, Japan) that produces microwave radiation at 1800 MHz
radiofrequency to create exposure in mobile communion. The generator
peak power was fixed at 2 W during exposure. In the digital signal
generator used in this study, the carrier frequency was 1800 MHz, the
modulation frequency was 217 Hz, there was a pulse of 577 µseconds, and
the maximum peak power was 2 W. The average specific absorption rate
(SAR) of the whole body was 0.117 W/kg. The study was carried out on a
total of 21 rats divided in 3 groups (n = 7).
Groups
1, 2, and 3 were exposed to microwave radiation for 0 (control group),
6, and 12 hours, respectively. A generator with an external antenna was
placed in the lower middle part of the cages.5
The rats in the study group were exposed to microwave radiation for the
specified hours in the mobile phone conversation mode....
The parotid tissue has been reported to absorb 40% of the
electromagnetic energy emitted by mobile phones on phones held in place.
This absorbed energy can cause thermal and nonthermal effects in the
parotid tissue.14
....
Conclusion
In light of our knowledge of the
literature, this is the first study to investigate the effects of an
1800-MHz electromagnetic field on the parotid gland of rats with
biochemical tests, immunohistochemically in light microscopy and
histopathologically in electron microscopy. This study observed that an
1800-MHz electromagnetic field causes undesirable adverse
histopathological and biochemical effects on the parotid gland of rats.
Histopathological and biochemical findings were detected with increasing
contact and exposure time. This study will lead other studies on this
topic and contribute to the literature in this area.
Open access paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01455613241287295
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Does
cell phone use increase the chances of parotid gland tumor development?
A
systematic review and meta-analysis
de Siqueira EC, de Souza FTA, Gomez RS, Gomes CC, de Souza RP. Does cell
phone use increase the chances of parotid gland tumor development? A
systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Pathol Med. 2017
Aug;46(7):480-483. doi: 10.1111/jop.12531.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior epidemiological studies had examined the association between cell phone use and the development of tumors in the parotid glands. However there is no consensus about the question of whether cell phone use is associated with increased risk of tumors in the parotid glands. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the existing literature about the mean question and to determine their statistical significance.
METHODS: Primary association studies. Papers that associated cell phone use and parotid gland tumors development were included, with no restrictions regarding publication date, language and place of publication. Systematic literature search using PubMed, Scielo and Embase followed by meta-analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Initial screening included 37 articles and three were included in meta-analysis. Using three independent samples including 5087 subjects from retrospective case-control studies, cell phone use seems to be associated with greater odds (1.28, 95%- confidence interval 1.09 - 1.51) to develop salivary gland tumor. Results should be read with caution due to the limited number of studies available and their retrospective design.
http://bit.ly/2gFfUBh
Excerpts
Salivary gland tumors are relatively rare, accounting for
2-5% of all head and neck tumors, being the parotids the most affected salivary
gland (6).
We further evaluated the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the saliva produced by the parotids according to self-reported exposure to cell phone, reporting an increase in pro-inflammatory and a decrease of anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the sample evaluated, suggesting a pro-inflammatory effect of cell phones (8).
Cell phone use was associated with greater odds (increase of 28%) of presence of tumor in the parotid glands (O.R. 1.28 95% C.I. [1.09–1.51] p = 0.0025) (Figure 2).
Primary association studies have reported discordant results (3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 15). Possible explanations for conflicting results are differences in study design, genetic background of sampled populations or clinical-epidemiological sample structure. It is important to note that discordant results do not mean that some are incorrect. Tumor manifestation is clearly a multifactorial process whose risk factors are several. Most of the studies have not assessed other risk factors when estimating existence of association.
This is the first systematic review followed by a meta-analysis to evaluate that association. Here, we report usage of cell phone increase, on average, 28% the odds of presenting parotid glands tumors.
Our results need to be read and interpreted with caution due to important limitations that need to be addressed. Although the number of subjects compiled is reasonably large, the number of independent samples is small (n = 3) and results are clearly driven by two of three studies.
Conclusion
Taken together, our results provide evidence of association between cell phone use and parotid tumor although their association presents mild effect.
We further evaluated the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the saliva produced by the parotids according to self-reported exposure to cell phone, reporting an increase in pro-inflammatory and a decrease of anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the sample evaluated, suggesting a pro-inflammatory effect of cell phones (8).
Cell phone use was associated with greater odds (increase of 28%) of presence of tumor in the parotid glands (O.R. 1.28 95% C.I. [1.09–1.51] p = 0.0025) (Figure 2).
Primary association studies have reported discordant results (3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 15). Possible explanations for conflicting results are differences in study design, genetic background of sampled populations or clinical-epidemiological sample structure. It is important to note that discordant results do not mean that some are incorrect. Tumor manifestation is clearly a multifactorial process whose risk factors are several. Most of the studies have not assessed other risk factors when estimating existence of association.
This is the first systematic review followed by a meta-analysis to evaluate that association. Here, we report usage of cell phone increase, on average, 28% the odds of presenting parotid glands tumors.
Our results need to be read and interpreted with caution due to important limitations that need to be addressed. Although the number of subjects compiled is reasonably large, the number of independent samples is small (n = 3) and results are clearly driven by two of three studies.
Conclusion
Taken together, our results provide evidence of association between cell phone use and parotid tumor although their association presents mild effect.
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Histological and histochemical study of the protective role
of rosemary extract against harmful effect of cell phone electromagnetic
radiation on the parotid glands
Fatma M. Ghoneim, Eetmad A. Arafat. Histological and
histochemical study of the protective role of rosemary extract against harmful
effect of cell phone electromagnetic radiation on the parotid glands. Acta
Histochemica, 118(5):478-485. June 2016.
Abstract
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a class of non-ionizing
radiation (NIR) that is emitted from mobile phone. It may have hazardous
effects on parotid glands. So, we aimed to investigate the histological and
histochemical changes of the parotid glands of rats exposed to mobile phone and
study the possible protective role of rosemary against its harmful effect.
Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were classified into
4 equal groups. Group I (control), group II (control receiving rosemary), group
III (mobile phone exposed group) and group IV (mobile exposed, rosemary treated
group). Parotid glands were dissected out for histological and histochemical
study. Moreover, measurement of oxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde (MDA)
and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was done. The results of this study
revealed that rosemary has protective effect through improving the histological
and histochemical picture of the parotid gland in addition of its antioxidant
effect. It could be concluded from the current study, that exposure of parotid
gland of rat models to electromagnetic radiation of mobile phone resulted in
structural changes at the level of light and electron microscopic examination
which could be explained by oxidative stress effect of mobile phone. Rosemary
could play a protective role against this harmful effect through its
antioxidant activity.
Conclusion
From
this study, it could be concluded that exposure of rat models to
non-ionizing radiation emitted from mobile phone has hazardous effects
on the histology and histochemistry of their parotid glands.
Administration of rosemary extract which is a natural antioxidant
resulted in a significant improvement. Unfortunately these preliminary
results cannot be further extrapolated to humans. Therefore, we should
adjust our use for mobile.
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