Can Prenatal and Postnatal Cell Phone Exposure Increase Adverse Maternal, Infant and Child Outcomes?

Parisa Razmjouei,Amir Ali Moodi Ghalibaf,Somayeh Moeindarbari,Fatemeh Abdi,Farzaneh Ashrafinia,Mona Najaf Najafi,Masumeh Ghazanfarpour

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1736173

Abstract

To determine the association between maternal mobile phone use and adverse outcomes in infants, children, and mothers. In March 202, we conducted a search on the MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. Data extraction and an assessment of the quality of the studies were performed by two authors. The quality of the studies was assessed using the checklist of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Studies assessing behavioral problems in infants aged 6 to 18 months reported null findings. However, an increased risk of emotional and behavioral disorders was observed in children aged between 7 and 11 years whose mothers had been exposed to cell phones. The findings regarding the association between maternal cell phone exposure and adverse outcomes in children aged 3 to 5 are controversial. A study found a significant association between the call time (p = 0.002) or the history of mobile phone use (in months) and speech disorders in the children (p = 0.003). However, another study found that maternal cell phone use during pregnancy was not significantly associated with child psychomotor and mental developments. Inconclusive results were observed about the adverse outcomes in fetuses, such as fetal growth restriction or t scores for birth weight in cell phone users as opposed to non-users. On the contrary, the children of mothers who were cell phone users had a lower risk of scoring low on motor skills. Similar results were observed regarding the adverse outcomes of cell phone use in infants, such as fetal growth restriction or low birth weight, and the risk of preeclampsia was lower among subjects with medium and high cell phone exposure, as opposed to those with low exposure. Studies on behavioral problems have reported different postnatal results, such as null findings among infants and a positive association in children.

Highlights

One of the most important devices that has seen a dramatic growth in recent years is the cell phone.1 Research shows that cell phones could expose a user to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs).2 Excessive mobile phone use in Japan is not limited to students, and can be used in adult women, even during the prenatal period.3 Cell phone based interventions and monitoring are used in the field of maternal and maternity health care.4Research has shown the safety of the short-term exposure to RF-EMFs in adults, while long term exposure have not been conclude
An increased risk of emotional and behavioral disorders was observed in children aged between 7 and 11 years whose mothers had been exposed to cell phones
A study found a significant association between the call time (p 1⁄4 0.002) or the history of mobile phone use and speech disorders in the children (p 1⁄4 0.003)

Summary

Introduction

One of the most important devices that has seen a dramatic growth in recent years is the cell phone. Research shows that cell phones could expose a user to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). Excessive mobile phone use in Japan is not limited to students, and can be used in adult women, even during the prenatal period. Cell phone based interventions and monitoring are used in the field of maternal and maternity health care.4Research has shown the safety of the short-term exposure to RF-EMFs in adults, while long term exposure have not been conclude. One of the most important devices that has seen a dramatic growth in recent years is the cell phone.. Research shows that cell phones could expose a user to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs).. Excessive mobile phone use in Japan is not limited to students, and can be used in adult women, even during the prenatal period.. Cell phone based interventions and monitoring are used in the field of maternal and maternity health care.. Research has shown the safety of the short-term exposure to RF-EMFs in adults, while long term exposure have not been conclude. As opposed to adults, may be more vulnerable to the effects of the long-term exposure to RF-EMFs on human health.. There is still ongoing research on the nonthermal effects of RF radiation (RFR) As opposed to adults, may be more vulnerable to the effects of the long-term exposure to RF-EMFs on human health. Studies have questioned the theory of the thermal effect induced by cell phones because the rate of absorption of cell phone RF by the pregnant uterus is not high enough to raise the body temperature. There is still ongoing research on the nonthermal effects of RF radiation (RFR)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion