Authored By:
Bodewein et al.This systematic review evaluated the evidence on physiological and health-effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures related to wireless telecommunication devices (e.g. mobile phones, cordless phones, etc.) in children and adolescents. The study included 53 eligible studies: 42 epidemiological and 11 experimental. The epidemiological studies evaluated health-effects, such as subjective symptoms, cognitive function, behaviour, infant development, and others; whereas the experimental studies assessed brain activity, cognitive function and other physiological parameters. The study showed that there is an inadequate or low evidence of an association between wireless telecommunication related RF-EMF exposures and health effects in children and adolescents.
Published In:
PLOS ONEThe review provides a robust evaluation of whether the use of mobile or cordless phone technologies has resulted in health or physiological effects among children and adolescents. The overall conclusion of the review is consistent to the findings of RF-EMF epidemiological studies performed in Australia. Two epidemiological studies conducted in Australian primary and secondary school children demonstrated no association between use of mobile and cordless phones and cognitive effects. Similarly, an experimental study conducted in Australia also did not show any effect on children’s brain activity and cognitive performance following mobile phone-like RF-EMF exposures.
The majority of epidemiological studies conducted so far on this topic share several similar limitations, particularly inaccuracies in ascertainment of personal and/or organ specific RF-EMF exposures and recall bias in RF-EMF exposure reporting (e.g., number and/or duration of calls made or received in the past). ARPANSA has identified that there is knowledge gap in this field and therefore, it is highlighted as one of the areas for further research on RF-EMF and health (
