Pediatric researchers suggest potential dangers for children from cellphone exposure

Bron: medicalxpress.com/news/2016-05-pediatric-potential-dangers-children-cellphone.html
5 mei 2016 by Andrea K. Mcdaniels, The Baltimore Sun

Doctors and scientists from Harvard and Yale medical schools warned Tuesday that pregnant mothers limit their unborn babies exposure to potentially harmful radiation by keeping cellphones away from their tummies because of the possible effect on brain development.

The doctors offered the advice during the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Baltimore where they also said parents should limit their children's use of cellphones, iPads and other wireless technology because it can cause behavioral and concentration problems.

There is little research on the effect of the microwave radiation and radio frequency radiation emitted by wireless devices on children, but the doctors said early studies provide enough evidence to suggest that parents should take caution.

The doctors' comments could stoke a longtime debate over the health dangers of cellphones, but the industry disputed their warning.

The CTIA, the association representing the U.S. wireless communications industry, including carriers, suppliers and manufacturers, cited a Food and Drug Administration statement that there is not enough evidence to show that cellphones can cause a health risk.

''CTIA and the wireless industry defer to the scientific community when it comes to cellphones and health effects,'' the group said in a statement. ''The peer-reviewed scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices do not pose a public health risk for adults or children.''

The group said that, in addition to the FDA, the World Health Organization, American Cancer Society and numerous other international and U.S. organizations and health experts, have said the scientific evidence shows no known health risk because of the radio frequency energy emitted by cellphones.

''The FCC has determined that all wireless phones legally sold in the United States are 'safe,''' the association said. ''The FCC monitors scientific research on a regular basis, and its standard for RF exposure is based on recommended guidelines adopted by U.S. and international standard-setting bodies.''

Still, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified both microwave radiation and radio frequency radiation as a ''possible'' human carcinogens, the researchers at Tuesday's conference said.



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