RF EMF, screen time, and emotional and behavioral problems in 5-year-old children

2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1980

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

RF EMF, screen time, and emotional and behavioral problems in 5-year-old children Guxens M, Vermeulen R, Steenkamer I, Beekhuizen J, Vrijkotte TGM, Kromhout H, Huss A. Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, screen time, and emotional and behavioural problems in 5-year-old children.Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2018 Oct 9. pii: S1438-4639(18)30502-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.09.006. Highlights • RF-EMF from different sources and screen time assessed in 5-year-old children. • Teachers and mothers independently reported child emotional and behavioural problems. • No associations with mobile/cordless phone calls which lead to peak RF-EMF to the head. • Associations with exposures contributing very little to RF-EMF when maternal-reported. Abstract BACKGROUND: Little is known about the exposure of young children to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and potentially associated health effects. We assessed the relationship of RF-EMF exposure from different sources and screen time exposure with emotional and behavioural problems in 5-year-old children. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 3102 children aged 5 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, in the Netherlands. Residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was estimated with a 3D geospatial radio wave propagation model. Residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources (cordless phone base stations and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)), children's mobile phone and cordless phone calls and screen time exposure (computer/video game and television watching) was reported by the mother. Teachers (n = 2617) and mothers (n = 3019) independently reported child emotional and behavioural problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS: No associations were found between mobile phone and cordless phone calls and emotional and behavioural problems. Children exposed to higher RF-EMF levels from mobile phone base stations showed higher odds of maternal-reported emotional symptoms (OR 1.82, 95%CI 1.07 to 3.09). Children with cordless phone at home had lower odds of teacher-reported problematic prosocial behaviour (OR 0.68, 95%CI 0.48 to 0.97) and of maternal-reported peer relationship problems (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.96). Children who watched television ≥1.5 h/day had higher odds of maternal-reported hyperactivity/inattention (OR 3.13, 95%CI 1.43 to 6.82). CONCLUSION: Mobile phone and cordless phone calls, which lead to peak RF-EMF exposures to the head, were not associated with any emotional and behavioural problems in 5-year-old children. Environmental RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations and from indoor sources and television watching, which both contribute very little to RF-EMF exposure, were associated with specific emotional and behavioural problems but mainly when reported by the mothers. We cannot, however, discard residual confounding or reverse causality. Further longitudinal research in particular as children will increase the use of telecommunication devices with the age may help to better understand the exact contribution of the different RF-EMF exposure sources if any. Moreover, a thorough control for confounding is essential for a correct interpretation of the studies on screen time and emotional and behavioural problems. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionmixed

PopulationChildren aged 5 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, Netherlands

Sample size3102

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 3102 five-year-old children, no associations were found between mobile phone or cordless phone calls and emotional/behavioural problems. Higher estimated residential RF-EMF from mobile phone base stations was associated with higher odds of maternal-reported emotional symptoms (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.07–3.09). Having a cordless phone at home was associated with lower odds of teacher-reported problematic prosocial behaviour (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48–0.97) and maternal-reported peer relationship problems (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.96); TV watching ≥1.5 h/day was associated with higher odds of maternal-reported hyperactivity/inattention (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.43–6.82).

Outcomes measured

Emotional and behavioural problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; mother- and teacher-reported)
Emotional symptoms
Problematic prosocial behaviour
Peer relationship problems
Hyperactivity/inattention

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (cannot rule out reverse causality)
Residual confounding cannot be discarded
Several associations mainly observed for maternal-reported outcomes (reporting differences between informants)
Some exposures based on maternal report (indoor sources, calls, screen time)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "multiple (mobile phone base stations; cordless phone base stations; WiFi; mobile/cordless phone calls; screen time/TV)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Children aged 5 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, Netherlands",
  "sample_size": 3102,
  "outcomes": [
    "Emotional and behavioural problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; mother- and teacher-reported)",
    "Emotional symptoms",
    "Problematic prosocial behaviour",
    "Peer relationship problems",
    "Hyperactivity/inattention"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 3102 five-year-old children, no associations were found between mobile phone or cordless phone calls and emotional/behavioural problems. Higher estimated residential RF-EMF from mobile phone base stations was associated with higher odds of maternal-reported emotional symptoms (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.07–3.09). Having a cordless phone at home was associated with lower odds of teacher-reported problematic prosocial behaviour (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48–0.97) and maternal-reported peer relationship problems (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.96); TV watching ≥1.5 h/day was associated with higher odds of maternal-reported hyperactivity/inattention (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.43–6.82).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design (cannot rule out reverse causality)",
    "Residual confounding cannot be discarded",
    "Several associations mainly observed for maternal-reported outcomes (reporting differences between informants)",
    "Some exposures based on maternal report (indoor sources, calls, screen time)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "children",
    "base stations",
    "WiFi",
    "cordless phone",
    "mobile phone calls",
    "screen time",
    "television",
    "Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire",
    "emotional symptoms",
    "behavioural problems",
    "cross-sectional"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "WiFi exposure at home was assessed (indoor sources), though not school-specific."
    }
  ]
}

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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.ijheh.2018.09.006
PubMed: Not supplied

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