Do mobile phones pose any health risk for children?
This question, raised on a number of occasions reflects the concern we all have forchildren and their wellbeing. It also reflects how important mobile phones have become to our everyday lives.
It is important to know the following about mobile phones: Mobile phones operate in accordance with international limits on radio wave exposure. These standards and guidelines are based on detailed, independent evaluations of a substantial scientific database of studies related to radio
waves and health. Scientific expert reviews and government agencies have been consistent in concluding that these guidelines are reliable safeguards for all segments of the population, including children.
Questions about the use of mobile phones by young people resulted from the May 2000 report of a review panel commissioned by the U.K. government, the
1. The IEGMP reasoned that if Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). there was an - as yet undiscovered - risk it could affect young people more than adults because of the status of their physical development and the prospect of longer lifetime phone usage. They therefore advised against “non-essential” use by children. In a January 2005 update, the U.K. National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) said that the IEGMP recommendation to limit usage by children “remains
2. appropriate as a precautionary measure.”Based on the IEGMP report the U.K. government provided funds for a programcalled “Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research” (MTHR). The program
3 , published in September 2007, states that “Mobile phones have not been reportfound to be associated with any biological or adverse health effects according to the UK’s largest investigation into the possible health risks from mobile telephone
4 However, more research was recommended and in a second phase of
technology.”
the program RF exposure on children is being investigated further.
On the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website it is stated: “The scientific
evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including children
5
and teenagers.”
Other authorities have adopted a similar view to that of the FDA: World Health Organization (WHO): “International guidelines have been
developed to protect everyone in the population: mobile phone users, those
who work near or live around base stations, as well as people who do not use
6
mobile phones.” Health Council of the Netherlands: “the [expert] committee feels that there
are no health-based reasons for limiting the use of mobile phones by
7
children.”
In a January 2008 statement, the French Health Ministry confirmed that, to date,
there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that the use of mobile phones, either
by adults or children, presents any significant health risk. Nonetheless, it
recommended a policy of careful avoidance. “As the hypothesis of a risk cannot be
8
. As data for very long
entirely excluded, precaution is justified,” the Ministry said
use are sparse the Ministry called parents to prevent children from excessive use of
mobiles.
It is important to note that since 2000 about 30 reports by expert panels and
9
from around the world have agreed that the scientific
government agencies
evidence does not demonstrate any actual health risks from the use of mobile
phones operating within international guidelines and this is true regardless of age.
The WHO position on children and health is found in Fact Sheet 193: “Present
scientific evidence does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the
use of mobile phones. If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their
own or their children's RF exposure by limiting the length of calls, or by using
10
In
"hands-free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body.”
11
confirming that the information provided in the
2005, WHO issued a clarification
above-mentioned fact sheet remains valid.
12
In June 2008, a paper by Wiart et al. was published describing calculations of the
RF power absorbed in head models of children and adults from antennas operating
at mobile telephone frequencies. This absorbed power is expressed as specific
absorption rate, abbreviated SAR. The authors found “that the differences between
the maximum SAR over 10 g estimated in the head models of the adults and the
This result is
ones of the children are small compared to the standard deviations.”
consistent with the published literature showing that the maximum SAR due to
mobile telephone emissions is about the same in children and adult heads when
This question, raised on a number of occasions reflects the concern we all have forchildren and their wellbeing. It also reflects how important mobile phones have become to our everyday lives.
It is important to know the following about mobile phones: Mobile phones operate in accordance with international limits on radio wave exposure. These standards and guidelines are based on detailed, independent evaluations of a substantial scientific database of studies related to radio
waves and health. Scientific expert reviews and government agencies have been consistent in concluding that these guidelines are reliable safeguards for all segments of the population, including children.
Questions about the use of mobile phones by young people resulted from the May 2000 report of a review panel commissioned by the U.K. government, the
1. The IEGMP reasoned that if Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). there was an - as yet undiscovered - risk it could affect young people more than adults because of the status of their physical development and the prospect of longer lifetime phone usage. They therefore advised against “non-essential” use by children. In a January 2005 update, the U.K. National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) said that the IEGMP recommendation to limit usage by children “remains
2. appropriate as a precautionary measure.”Based on the IEGMP report the U.K. government provided funds for a programcalled “Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research” (MTHR). The program
3 , published in September 2007, states that “Mobile phones have not been reportfound to be associated with any biological or adverse health effects according to the UK’s largest investigation into the possible health risks from mobile telephone
4 However, more research was recommended and in a second phase of
technology.”
the program RF exposure on children is being investigated further.
On the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website it is stated: “The scientific
evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including children
5
and teenagers.”
Other authorities have adopted a similar view to that of the FDA: World Health Organization (WHO): “International guidelines have been
developed to protect everyone in the population: mobile phone users, those
who work near or live around base stations, as well as people who do not use
6
mobile phones.” Health Council of the Netherlands: “the [expert] committee feels that there
are no health-based reasons for limiting the use of mobile phones by
7
children.”
In a January 2008 statement, the French Health Ministry confirmed that, to date,
there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that the use of mobile phones, either
by adults or children, presents any significant health risk. Nonetheless, it
recommended a policy of careful avoidance. “As the hypothesis of a risk cannot be
8
. As data for very long
entirely excluded, precaution is justified,” the Ministry said
use are sparse the Ministry called parents to prevent children from excessive use of
mobiles.
It is important to note that since 2000 about 30 reports by expert panels and
9
from around the world have agreed that the scientific
government agencies
evidence does not demonstrate any actual health risks from the use of mobile
phones operating within international guidelines and this is true regardless of age.
The WHO position on children and health is found in Fact Sheet 193: “Present
scientific evidence does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the
use of mobile phones. If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their
own or their children's RF exposure by limiting the length of calls, or by using
10
In
"hands-free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body.”
11
confirming that the information provided in the
2005, WHO issued a clarification
above-mentioned fact sheet remains valid.
12
In June 2008, a paper by Wiart et al. was published describing calculations of the
RF power absorbed in head models of children and adults from antennas operating
at mobile telephone frequencies. This absorbed power is expressed as specific
absorption rate, abbreviated SAR. The authors found “that the differences between
the maximum SAR over 10 g estimated in the head models of the adults and the
This result is
ones of the children are small compared to the standard deviations.”
consistent with the published literature showing that the maximum SAR due to
mobile telephone emissions is about the same in children and adult heads when
