RF Safe

Effects of Mobile Phones on Children's and Adolescents' Health: A Commentary

2017 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 2264

This commentary notes that mobile and cordless phones emit RF radiation and cites the 2011 IARC evaluation concluding RF radiation (30 kHz–300 GHz) is Group 2B (“possible”) human carcinogen. It argues that potential health implications in children and adolesc…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017
Study typeother
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

- Effects of Mobile Phones on Children's and Adolescents' Health: A Commentary Lennart Hardell. Effects of Mobile Phones on Children's and Adolescents' Health: A Commentary. Child Development. Published online May 15, 2017. Abstract The use of digital technology has grown rapidly during the last couple of decades. During use, mobile phones and cordless phones emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation. No previous generation has been exposed during childhood and adolescence to this kind of radiation. The brain is the main target organ for RF emissions from the handheld wireless phone. An evaluation of the scientific evidence on the brain tumor risk was made in May 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer at World Health Organization. The scientific panel reached the conclusion that RF radiation from devices that emit nonionizing RF radiation in the frequency range 30 kHz- 300 GHz is a Group 2B, that is, a "possible" human carcinogen. With respect to health implications of digital (wireless) technologies, it is of importance that neurological diseases, physiological addiction, cognition, sleep, and behavioral problems are considered in addition to cancer. Well-being needs to be carefully evaluated as an effect of changed behavior in children and adolescents through their interactions with modern digital technologies. onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typeother
Effect directionunclear
PopulationChildren and adolescents
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

This commentary notes that mobile and cordless phones emit RF radiation and cites the 2011 IARC evaluation concluding RF radiation (30 kHz–300 GHz) is Group 2B (“possible”) human carcinogen. It argues that potential health implications in children and adolescents should consider outcomes beyond cancer, including neurological diseases, addiction, cognition, sleep, behavioral problems, and well-being.

Outcomes measured

  • brain tumor risk
  • cancer
  • neurological diseases
  • physiological addiction
  • cognition
  • sleep
  • behavioral problems
  • well-being

Limitations

  • Commentary; does not report original study data or quantitative results in the abstract
  • No exposure metrics (e.g., frequency used, SAR, duration) are provided for the discussed technologies
  • No sample size or study design details are provided
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Children and adolescents",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "brain tumor risk",
    "cancer",
    "neurological diseases",
    "physiological addiction",
    "cognition",
    "sleep",
    "behavioral problems",
    "well-being"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This commentary notes that mobile and cordless phones emit RF radiation and cites the 2011 IARC evaluation concluding RF radiation (30 kHz–300 GHz) is Group 2B (“possible”) human carcinogen. It argues that potential health implications in children and adolescents should consider outcomes beyond cancer, including neurological diseases, addiction, cognition, sleep, behavioral problems, and well-being.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Commentary; does not report original study data or quantitative results in the abstract",
    "No exposure metrics (e.g., frequency used, SAR, duration) are provided for the discussed technologies",
    "No sample size or study design details are provided"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phones",
    "cordless phones",
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "children",
    "adolescents",
    "IARC",
    "WHO",
    "Group 2B",
    "brain tumors",
    "cognition",
    "sleep",
    "behavior"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Discusses WHO/IARC 2011 classification of RF radiation as Group 2B."
    }
  ]
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1111/cdev.12831/abstract
PubMed: Not supplied

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