The Evidence is In.
Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Emissions and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study
It has been argued that children are particularly at risk of developing health effects due to the emitted radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). We designed this cohort to measure the association between exposure to RF-EMF radiation and neurodevelopmental changes in neonates and infants.
There was and is concern about the proliferation of 5G cell phone towers since their range is less than 4G or LTE. This requires more density of the installations and their proximity to residential areas.
Introduction
An estimated 7.26 billion cell phone users have been reported all over the world at the end of 2022, and mobile phones form an important part of communication [1,2]. The popularity of cell phones has particularly increased among children and adolescents. A multi-country survey reported that 69% of children used mobile phones; the proportion was highest in Denmark (93%) and lowest in Japan (58%) [3]. A large proportion of children start using cell phones by the age of one year, and parents themselves give cell phones to the children while doing household work, at bedtime, and to keep them calm [4]. Another study found that the overall exposure to mobile phones was 76% in children less than five years of age; of these, about 21% were less than one year old and 25% were one- to two-year-olds [5].
The present study is an analysis of data from 261 observations of a cohort of 105 neonates from Navi Mumbai, India.
Epidemiological studies have discussed the potential risk of these radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in various health outcomes such as increased risk of cancer and reproductive system and nervous system disorders [6,7]. Similarly, information is available on the harmful effects of radiation from cell phones and phone towers on the menstrual cycles, fertility, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, and DNA damage (genotoxicity) [8-11]. It has been argued that children are particularly at risk of developing health effects due to the emitted radiation. Since children have a developing nervous system with higher water content and ion concentration, their brain tissue is more susceptible to impairment due to the energy emitted from the cell phones held next to the head than that of adults. About twice as much mobile phone energy is absorbed in the peripheral brain tissues of children as compared to adults [12]. Studies have also been conducted to assess the effect of RF on nervous system; these have reported an alteration of passive avoidance behavior and hippocampus morphology, decreased locomotor activity, tendency toward increased basal corticosterone levels, reduced memory functions, impaired cognitive performance, impairment of learning, and an associated change in acetylcholine receptor levels, decrease in cholinergic activity leading to short-term memory deficit, and changes in monoamine neurotransmitters [13-18].
Clinical and epidemiological studies and reviews have provided mixed results. Divan and co-workers reported that less than 5% of children had developmental delays at 6 and 18 months of age; they did not find a significant association between prenatal cell phone use and motor or cognitive/language developmental delays among infants at 6 and 18 months of age [19]. Furthermore, Kwon and colleagues also did not report any statistically significant effects on the neural change-detection profile [20], and Vrijheid and colleagues and other authors found little evidence of an adverse effect of maternal cell phone use during pregnancy and the neurodevelopment of offspring [21,22]. In another study, Divan and co-workers also reported that exposure to cell phones prenatally and, to a lesser degree, postnatally, was associated with behavioral difficulties such as emotional and hyperactivity problems around the age of school entry. Further, they concluded that these associations may be non-causal and may be due to unmeasured confounding [23]. However, few studies have assessed the association between levels of household radiation and outcomes in infants.
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire is a parent-reported screening questionnaire that assesses developmental milestones [24]. It is considered to be a useful screening tool to identify children at risk of developmental delay (five domains of the questionnaire) and detect severe disability in these infants, particularly in low- and middle-income countries [25]. In addition, the Ages and Stages Social Emotional Questionnaire is useful for screening the social-emotional competence of children [26]. We designed this cohort to compare these neurodevelopmental outcomes according to the severity of RF-EMF exposure in houses. We also wanted to study the factors associated with these outcomes in these children.
Clinical and epidemiological studies and reviews have provided mixed results. Divan and co-workers reported that less than 5% of children had developmental delays at 6 and 18 months of age; they did not find a significant association between prenatal cell phone use and motor or cognitive/language developmental delays among infants at 6 and 18 months of age [19]. Furthermore, Kwon and colleagues also did not report any statistically significant effects on the neural change-detection profile [20], and Vrijheid and colleagues and other authors found little evidence of an adverse effect of maternal cell phone use during pregnancy and the neurodevelopment of offspring [21,22]. In another study, Divan and co-workers also reported that exposure to cell phones prenatally and, to a lesser degree, postnatally, was associated with behavioral difficulties such as emotional and hyperactivity problems around the age of school entry. Further, they concluded that these associations may be non-causal and may be due to unmeasured confounding [23]. However, few studies have assessed the association between levels of household radiation and outcomes in infants.
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