Children using mobile phones – mixed messages

The Interphone study, which EMFields reported on in our news story of 15th June, found that long-term (10 years or more) use of mobile phones for about an hour a day (very common these days among young people) was linked to a higher risk of developing some of the most serious brain tumours.

The study did not include any data relating to children and long term use of mobile phones. Children are likely to have the highest cumulative call time, starting at an age when, biologically, they are more likely to be harmed by this type of radiation than adults.

Because of this, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), has joined many other countries and official organisations around the world in issuing precautionary advice for children and mobile phone use. ARPANSA suggest that parents encourage their children to limit their exposure by reducing call time, or taking other precautionary measures. [1]

ARPANSA acknowledges that children may need to have mobile phones and use them in many situations. The precautionary measures relate to the use of the mobile phones against the head.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading Australian psychologist and professor of paediatrics called parents who allow young children to use mobile phones "insane" and said that no child under 12 should be allowed a mobile phone.

In Europe, in 2009, the French Secretary of State for Ecology declared that mobile phones were to be banned from French primary schools. In addition, France is requiring manufacturers to create handsets that allow only texting to reduce health risks to children.

The UK's Lawrie Challis, former chair of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme said earlier this year that "primary school pupils should not have phones at all."

Recently, New Zealand bucked the trend of precaution and the Education Ministry declared it safe to make it compulsory for school children to use a mobile phone as a learning aid. It comes as no surprise to hear that advisors to the Ministry included people from the telecommunications industry. This has caused a storm of protest from some parents and doctors over there.

The current UK Department of Health leaflet states:
"The UK Chief Medical Officers strongly advise that where children and young people do use mobile phones, they should be encouraged to (i)use mobile phones for essential purposes only and (ii) keep all calls short - talking for long periods prolongs exposure and should be discouraged. The UK CMOs recommend that if parents want to avoid their children being subject to any possible risk that might be identified in the future, the way to do so is to exercise their choice not to let their children use mobile phones.” [2] (Whatever that may mean in practice!)

If you believe that your child needs to carry and use a mobile phone, then we suggest you consider giving them a BlocSock to greatly reduce their microwave exposure. [3]

Links from this story for further information:

[1] ARPANSA news release
[2] UK Dept of Health leaflet
[3] BlocSocks

Archived News - Listing

20 Jul 2010 - Children using mobile phones – mixed messages
15 Jun 2010 - Mobile Phone use and the risk of Brain Tumours - Interphone revisited
05 May 2010 - Powerlines and childhood leukaemia
16 Apr 2010 - Powerlines to be moved away from school to protect children
07 Apr 2010 - It is not all in the mind + Man sues neighbour over gadget use
31 Mar 2010 - New study shows how mobile phone use can reduce fertility
08 Mar 2010 - Two new research studies about electromagnetic hypersensitivity have just come out
11 Feb 2010 - Spanish children and their teachers made seriously ill by mobile phone mast
20 Jan 2010 - German GPs know about EMFs causing health problems
29 Dec 2009 - Progress in the new French Hi-tech no radiation refuge zone
15 Dec 2009 - A link between exposure to EMFs and childhood brain tumours confirmed
04 Dec 2009 - France leads the way in reducing RF exposure
13 Nov 2009 - French believe the biological effects of exposure to RF radiation now beyond doubt
26 Oct 2009 - Austrian research shows DECT phones are the worst
28 Aug 2009 - Mobile phone masts more of a problem than phones - official
21 Aug 2009 - Living near to powerlines has once again been linked to an increased risk of getting cancer
07 Aug 2009 - Liechtenstein and Switzerland are to reduce exposure guidelines
08 Jul 2009 - Alarm bells about WiFi and DECT Phones
03 Jul 2009 - Community Presentation on EMFs and Health Monday 7th July
25 Jun 2009 - Dressed for the occasion
06 Jun 2009 - European Parliament votes 559 to 22 to adopt a report on the risks of EMFs
15 May 2009 - Electromagnetic Awareness Month
20 Mar 2009 - Breast cancer and night work
11 Mar 2009 - Exposing children to wireless in schools is 'criminal'
11 Feb 2009 - A new RF-free village in the South of France
16 Jan 2009 - Melatonin helps protect the liver
17 Dec 2008 - Powerfrequency susceptibility may be determined by our genes