When people talk about smartphone radiation, they usually think about the brain. Far less attention is paid to another highly exposed area—the thyroid gland. Located at the front of the neck, the thyroid sits exactly where a phone is typically held during calls. This means it can receive direct and repeated radiofrequency (RF) exposure from everyday smartphone use.
The thyroid plays a central role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, body temperature, heart rhythm, and nervous system balance. Even subtle disruptions in its function can affect the entire body. That’s why long-term, localized exposure in this region deserves closer attention.
Phones and the neck: an invisible load
In modern smartphones, the main communication antenna is often positioned near the bottom of the device. When the phone is held to the ear, this antenna can be just centimeters away from the thyroid gland. RF radiation isn’t felt as heat or pain, so exposure can accumulate silently—especially during long or frequent calls.
Rising thyroid cancer rates: coincidence or pattern?
Epidemiological data show that thyroid cancer incidence has steadily increased since the late 20th century, particularly in middle-aged adults. This rise closely follows the rapid global adoption of mobile and smartphones.
Importantly, this trend cannot be explained by improved diagnostics alone. If earlier detection were the sole factor, incidence would eventually stabilize or decline. Instead, rates continue to climb—raising questions about environmental contributors.
What do studies suggest?
Population-based studies indicate that people who use mobile phones intensively and over many years are more likely to be diagnosed with small thyroid tumors (microcarcinomas). Risk tends to increase with longer duration and higher frequency of use. While not every result reaches strict statistical significance, the direction of risk is consistent across studies.
Insights from James C. Lin
These patterns were synthesized by James C. Lin in his analysis “Increasing Incidence of Thyroid Cancer and Use of Smart Phones.” He highlighted that the rise in thyroid cancer parallels the growth of smartphone use, especially since the early 2000s.
Lin noted that smartphones can produce more localized RF exposure to the neck area than earlier mobile devices. He also emphasized that the observed increase in incidence cannot be attributed solely to better detection, supporting the hypothesis that long-term smartphone use may represent a meaningful environmental risk factor for thyroid cancer.
Why is the impact different for different people?
Not everyone responds the same way. Research suggests that genetic differences, particularly those related to DNA damage repair, can increase susceptibility to RF exposure. As a result, identical phone-use habits may have minimal effects for one person but a biologically significant impact for another.
A constant background exposure
Today, smartphones are carried in pockets, held near the neck, placed beside the bed, and used late into the night. This creates continuous, low-level exposure rather than brief, occasional contact. Over time, such background exposure may act as a chronic stressor—especially for hormonal and nervous system regulation.
What can you do?
Completely avoiding smartphones isn’t realistic. But exposure can be reduced by limiting long calls held to the ear, avoiding carrying the phone close to the neck, and not keeping it near the head during sleep. Increasingly, people are also looking for passive preventive solutions that work continuously without changing daily habits.
BIOR: support for everyday EMF exposure
BIOR is designed to help the body better adapt to daily electromagnetic exposure. It’s a passive solution—no active electronics, no chemicals, no energy emission—created for modern environments where EMF exposure is unavoidable. Rather than promising elimination, BIOR focuses on supporting long-term physiological balance.
Conclusion
The thyroid is one of the most exposed yet least discussed targets of smartphone RF radiation. Scientific trends suggest that long-term, frequent exposure should not be ignored. Awareness, prevention, and thoughtful adaptation are key—especially in a world where technology is always within reach.
