Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Communication: Description of Modeled Dose in Brain Regions and the Body in European Children and Adolescents

Environmental research · 2020 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 1463

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2020

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Communication: Description of Modeled Dose in Brain Regions and the Body in European Children and Adolescents Laura Ellen Birks, Luuk Van Wel, Ilaria Liorni, Livia Pierotti, Mònica Guxens, Anke Huss, Milena Foerster, Myles Capstick, Marloes Eeftens, Hanan El Marroun, Marisa Estarlich , Mara Gallastegi, Llúcia González Safont, Wout Joseph, Loreto Santa-Marina, Arno Thielens, Maties Torrent, Tanja Vrijkotte, Joe Wiart, Martin Röösli, Elisabeth Cardis, Roel Vermeulen, Martine Vrijheid. Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Communication: Description of Modeled Dose in Brain Regions and the Body in European Children and Adolescents. Environ Res. 2020 Nov 24;110505. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110505. Highlights • We modeled daily RF dose in the brain and body in European children and adolescents. • Our modeling combined exposure to near-field and far-field RF sources. • Adolescents (age 14-18) received more RF dose in the brain than children (age 8-12). • Subjects received the highest RF dose in the temporal and frontal lobes of brain. • Calling on 2G networks was the largest contributor to RF dose in the brain. Abstract Background: Little is known about radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF) from mobile technology and resulting dose in young people. We describe modeled integrated RF dose in European children and adolescents combining own mobile device use and surrounding sources. Methods: Using an integrated RF model, we estimated the daily RF dose in the brain (whole-brain, cerebellum, frontal lobe, midbrain, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobes) and the whole-body in 8,358 children (ages 8-12) and adolescents (ages 14-18) from the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland during 2012-2016. The integrated model estimated RF dose from near-field sources (digital enhanced communication technology (DECT) phone, mobile phone, tablet, and laptop) and far-field, surrounding, sources (mobile phone base stations via 3D-radiowave modeling or RF measurements). Results: Adolescents were more frequent mobile phone users and experienced higher modeled RF doses in the whole-brain (median 330.4 mJ/kg/day) compared to children (median 81.8 mJ/kg/day). Children spent more time using tablets or laptops compared to adolescents, resulting in higher RF doses in the whole-body (median whole-body dose of 81.8 mJ/kg/day) compared to adolescents (41.9 mJ/kg/day). Among brain regions, temporal lobes received the highest RF dose (medians of 274.9 and 1,786.5 mJ/kg/day in children and adolescents, respectively) followed by the frontal lobe. In most children and adolescents, calling on 2G networks was the main contributor to RF dose in the whole-brain (medians of 31.1 and 273.7 mJ/kg/day, respectively). Conclusion: This first large study of RF dose to the brain and body of children and adolescents, shows that mobile phone calls on 2G networks are the main determinants of brain dose, especially in temporal and frontal lobes, whereas whole-body doses were mostly determined by tablet and laptop use. The modeling of RF doses provides valuable input to epidemiological research and to potential risk management regarding RF exposure in young people. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionunclear

PopulationEuropean children (8–12) and adolescents (14–18) from the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland

Sample size8358

ExposureRF · daily modeled dose (mJ/kg/day) during 2012–2016

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using an integrated RF model, adolescents had higher modeled whole-brain RF dose (median 330.4 mJ/kg/day) than children (median 81.8 mJ/kg/day), while children had higher modeled whole-body dose (median 81.8 mJ/kg/day) than adolescents (41.9 mJ/kg/day). Temporal lobes received the highest modeled brain dose (medians 274.9 mJ/kg/day in children and 1,786.5 mJ/kg/day in adolescents), followed by the frontal lobe. Calling on 2G networks was the main contributor to modeled whole-brain dose in most participants (medians 31.1 and 273.7 mJ/kg/day in children and adolescents, respectively).

Outcomes measured

Modeled daily RF dose in brain (whole brain and regions: cerebellum, frontal lobe, midbrain, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobes)
Modeled daily whole-body RF dose
Contributions to modeled dose from near-field sources (DECT phone, mobile phone, tablet, laptop) and far-field sources (base stations via 3D radiowave modeling or RF measurements)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile communication (mobile phone use and base stations) plus other wireless devices (DECT phone, tablet, laptop)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "daily modeled dose (mJ/kg/day) during 2012–2016"
  },
  "population": "European children (8–12) and adolescents (14–18) from the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland",
  "sample_size": 8358,
  "outcomes": [
    "Modeled daily RF dose in brain (whole brain and regions: cerebellum, frontal lobe, midbrain, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobes)",
    "Modeled daily whole-body RF dose",
    "Contributions to modeled dose from near-field sources (DECT phone, mobile phone, tablet, laptop) and far-field sources (base stations via 3D radiowave modeling or RF measurements)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using an integrated RF model, adolescents had higher modeled whole-brain RF dose (median 330.4 mJ/kg/day) than children (median 81.8 mJ/kg/day), while children had higher modeled whole-body dose (median 81.8 mJ/kg/day) than adolescents (41.9 mJ/kg/day). Temporal lobes received the highest modeled brain dose (medians 274.9 mJ/kg/day in children and 1,786.5 mJ/kg/day in adolescents), followed by the frontal lobe. Calling on 2G networks was the main contributor to modeled whole-brain dose in most participants (medians 31.1 and 273.7 mJ/kg/day in children and adolescents, respectively).",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMF",
    "modeled dose",
    "integrated RF model",
    "children",
    "adolescents",
    "brain regions",
    "whole-body dose",
    "mobile phone",
    "2G calling",
    "DECT",
    "tablet",
    "laptop",
    "base stations",
    "far-field",
    "near-field",
    "Europe"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "RF exposure modeling in children/adolescents may be relevant to guideline/risk-management discussions, but no specific guideline body is mentioned."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110505
PubMed: 33245886

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