A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports by Zhou et. al (2024) found that prolonged daily use of Bluetooth headsets was “strongly linked” to an increased risk of developing thyroid nodules. 

SHAP analysis revealed age and daily Bluetooth headset usage duration as the two most significant factors affecting thyroid nodule risk. Specifically, longer daily usage durations of Bluetooth headsets were strongly linked to an increased risk of developing thyroid nodules, as indicated by the SHAP analysis outcomes. Our study highlighted a significant impact relationship between prolonged Bluetooth headset use and increased thyroid nodule risk, emphasizing the importance of considering health impacts in the use of modern technology, especially for devices like Bluetooth headsets that are frequently used daily.

The authors conclude that their research is relevant to developing public health policies: 

.. our research provides a scientific basis for the formulation of public health policies and personal health habit choices, suggesting that attention should be paid to the duration of Bluetooth headset use in daily life to reduce the potential risk of thyroid nodules. Future research should further investigate the biological mechanisms of this relationship and consider additional potential influencing factors to offer more comprehensive health guidance and preventive measures.

The study found cumulative impacts from longer term exposure

The analysis of age factors in this study revealed a significant trend: susceptibility to thyroid nodules increases with age. This phenomenon may be partly attributed to the gradual decline in the body’s self-repair capabilities and cellular regeneration mechanisms with aging, leading to cumulative effects on cell damage and increased health risks^33,34. Additionally, the analysis of daily headphone usage time (daily_usage_time) indicated a critical cumulative effect: prolonged daily use of NIR sources like Bluetooth headphones may increase the risk of thyroid nodules. This cumulative effect reflects that even though NIR is not sufficient to directly cause cellular ionization, its long-term effects could still exert subtle negative impacts on cellular functions. Notably, the thyroid is an organ highly sensitive to radiation, and prolonged NIR exposure may lead to damage in this organ. This hypothesis is supported by SHAP analysis in individuals who wear Bluetooth headphones for extended periods, suggesting that health guidance in the use of everyday electronic devices should particularly focus on their potential long-term impacts on the thyroid. This consideration is crucial for the development of preventive measures and public health recommendations, necessitating an increased awareness of the potential health impacts of electronic device usage while promoting their use.

Zhou N, Qin W, Zhang JJ, Wang Y, Wen JS, Lim YM. Epidemiological exploration of the impact of bluetooth headset usage on thyroid nodules using Shapley additive explanations method. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 21;14(1):14354.  

What you need to know:

• AirPods and Bluetooth headsets constantly expose you to radiofrequency (RF) radiation whether you are using them or not. 
• The RF radiation is absorbed into your brain and body tissues. 
• RF radiation is the same type of wireless radiation that your cell phone emits. The World Health Organization listed RF as a Class 2B carcinogen in 2011. Now, a decade later, many scientists have published research stating this type of radiation is a proven human carcinogen.
• While the RF exposure from Airpods and Bluetooth headsets is lower than a cell phone, published studies have documented numerous biological effects from RF exposure, even at very, very low exposure levels. 

What you can do:

• Do not use Bluetooth earbuds!
• To reduce cell phone radiation exposure, use speakerphone as much as possible with the phone on a table (not in your pocket or lap or bra) away from your body. Use an airtube corded headset when you cannot use speakerphone.
• The safest way to communicate is to use a regular corded telephone, instead of a mobile phone or cordless phone. Yes, its actually easier than you think!
• Environmental Health Trust has resources to help you set up safer telephone systems in your home and office at our Healthy Tech at Home project website.