TY - JOUR AB - The present systematic review and meta‑analysis investigated the association between exposure to radiofrequency radiation and the risk of breast cancer. The published studies that were available in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, Airiti Library, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations and ProQuest until May 2020 were investigated. A total of eight studies (four case‑control and four cohort studies) were eligible for quantitative analysis. A significant association between radiofrequency radiation exposure and breast cancer risk was detected [pooled relative risk (RR)=1.189; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.056‑1.339]. Subgroup analyses indicated that radiofrequency radiation exposure significantly increased the risk of breast cancer susceptibility among subjects aged ≥50 years (RR=2.179; 95% CI, 1.260‑3.770). Pooled estimates revealed that the use of electrical appliances, which emit radiofrequency radiation, such as mobile phones and computers, significantly increased breast cancer development (RR=2.057; 95% CI, 1.272‑3.327), while occupational radiofrequency exposure and transmitters did not increase breast cancer development (RR=1.274; 95% CI, 0.956‑1.697; RR=1.133; 95% CI, 0.987‑1.300, respectively). It was concluded that radiofrequency radiation exposure significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, especially in women aged ≥50 years and in individuals who used electric appliances, such as mobile phones and computers. In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑analysis, an evaluation protocol was prepared and registered with the PROSPERO database (registration no. CRD42018087283). AD - School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C. Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C. Post‑Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C. Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C. AU - Shih,Ya-Wen AU - O'brien,Anthony,Paul AU - Hung,Chin-Sheng AU - Chen,Kee-Hsin AU - Hou,Wen-Hsuan AU - Tsai,Hsiu-Ting DA - 2021/01/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2020.9455 IS - 1 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - breast cancer radiofrequency radiation systematic review meta‑analysis PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 23 ST - Exposure to radiofrequency radiation increases the risk of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‑analysis Retraction in /10.3892/etm.2021.9903 T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Exposure to radiofrequency radiation increases the risk of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‑analysis Retraction in /10.3892/etm.2021.9903 UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9455 VL - 21 ER -