Mobile phones and children

Mobile Phones and Children

Do mobile phones pose any health risk for children?

This question, raised on a number of occasions reflects the concern all parents have for their children and their wellbeing. It also reflects how important mobile phones have become to our everyday lives.

The questions about the use of mobile phones by children was raised in the May 2000 report of a review panel commissioned by the U.K. government, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). The IEGMP reasoned that if there was an - as yet undiscovered - risk it could affect young people more than adults because of the status of their physical development and the prospect of longer lifetime phone usage. They recommended a limited use of mobile phones by children. In 2005 the U.K. National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) backs up the limited use of mobiles by children.

The Government provided funding for a programme called “Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research” (MTHR). The program report3, published in September 2007, states that “Mobile phones have not been found to be associated with any biological or adverse health effects according to the UK’s largest investigation into the possible health risks from mobile telephone technology.”.

In a January 2008 statement, the French Health Ministry confirmed that, to date, there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that the use of mobile phones, either by adults or children, presents any significant health risk. The Ministry still pleads that parents prevent children from excessive use of mobiles as data for very long use are sparse.

Since 2000 about 30 reports by expert panels and government agencies from around the world have agreed that the scientific evidence does not demonstrate any actual health risks from the use of mobile phones operating within international guidelines and this is true regardless of age.

So overall there is no evidence to suggest any health risk from the use of mobile phones but it is still recommended to limit the use of mobiles by kids as data for very long use are sparse.

http://www.mmfai.org/public/docs/eng/080723_MMF_Viewpoint_mobileschildren_final.pdf