Increased Health Risks to Children from Smartphone/Tablet Radiation

by | Apr 20, 2016 | 2014, Infant and Children's Health, Radioactivity and Irradiation

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Radiation from smartphones and laptop computers damaging effect on children were found that convinced the FCC to recommend a distance of 8 inches between the device and the user.  

In 2011 the World Health Organization classified microwave radiation, which is emitted from smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers, is a Class 2B (possible) carcinogen (1), of which there are 285 Class 2B carcinogens and include DDT, lead, and gasoline (2).

Now a 2014 study (3) reviewed the literature and has concluded the health risks to children exposed to microwave radiation is a significant cause for concern. Citing a 2008 study showing children’s brain tissue absorb double the amount of microwave radiation (4) and their bone tissue absorbs ten times more (5) than adults’ tissue, researchers cited the “20 cm rule” recommended by the Federal Commerce Commission regarding mobile devices “be used in such a way that a separation distance of at least 20 cm (8 inches) is normally maintained between radiating structures and the body of the user or nearby persons” (6).

Regarding microwave radiation in children, a 2009 Swedish study reported a nearly 8-fold increase in brain cancer risk when first cellphone or cordless phone use began as a teenager or younger (p < 0.001) (7) while a 2013 Korean study (8) found a 2-fold increased risk of ADHD in younger than the age of 13 playing games on smart phones for more than 3 minutes per day (p < 0.01) and a 31% increased risk of salivary gland cancer when making calls greater than 1 minute in duration (p = 0.02).

When considering longer term health consequences, a 2005 study showed an adverse effect on sperm motility, with “The proportion of slow progressive motile sperm increased with increase of the duration of the daily transmission time” (p < 0.01) (9) and a Japanese study reported “significant decrease in sperm count (p = 0.004) and motility (p = 0.003) . . . because of exposure to mobile phone emission, respectively” (10).

Finally, a 2012 study (11) saw a 3% increase in temporal and frontal brain cancer (p < 0.001) and a 2.3% increase in the most aggressive type of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (p < 0.001) from 1992 to 2006.

The researchers went on to make several recommendations regarding microwave radiation in children:

-Pregnant women should avoid exposing their fetus to microwave radiation

-Adolescent girls and women should not place cell-phones in their bras or in hijabs

-Banning the sale of toys that emit microwave radiation

-Increase public awareness of the potential harms of smart phone use.

-Revision exposure limits of the people to microwave radiation

Source: Morgan, L. Lloyd, Santosh Kesari, and Devra Lee Davis. “Why children absorb more microwave radiation than adults: The consequences.” Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 2.4 (2014): 197-204.

© 2014 Saudi Society of Microscopes. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Posted January 20, 2015.

References:

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  2. List of IARC Group 2B carcinogens; 2014.
  3. Cleveland Jr RF, Sylvar DM, Ulcek JL. Evaluating Compliance withFCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromag-netic Fields. Additional Information for Evaluating Compliance ofMobile and Portable Devices with FCC Limits for Human Exposureto Radiofrequency Emissions. Supplement C (Edition 97-01) to OETBulletin 65 (Edition 97-01). Federal Communications
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