Mobile phones and children: is precaution warranted?

Bioelectromagnetics. 2004 Feb;25(2):142-4. doi: 10.1002/bem.10200.

Abstract

Are there health related arguments to recommend that children limit their use of mobile telephones? The International Expert Group on Mobile Phones from the UK concluded so, but did not come up with convincing scientific data to back this statement. The Health Council of the Netherlands approached the problem by considering whether developmental arguments might be found, i.e., asking if there reason to believe that the heads of children are more susceptible to the electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile telephones than those of adults. It concluded that no major changes in head development occur after the second year of life that might point at a difference in electromagnetic susceptibility between children and adults. The Health Council therefore sees no reason to recommend limiting the use of mobile phones by children.

MeSH terms

  • Advisory Committees*
  • Brain / radiation effects
  • Cell Phone*
  • Child
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Microwaves*
  • Netherlands
  • Radiation Injuries / etiology
  • Radiation Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Societies, Medical
  • United Kingdom