Advertisement
Living

How to protect your children from cellphone radiation

Parents who keep track of their kids by giving them a cell phone may want to make some changes in the ways they keep connected. It might not mean ditching the devices completely, but lingering concerns about radiation absorption from cell phones could alter how kids use the technology.

Kids on cell phones Masterfile

Parents who keep track of their kids by giving them a cellphone may want to make some changes in the ways they keep connected. It might not mean ditching the devices completely, but lingering concerns about radiation absorption from cellphones could alter how kids use the technology.  

So troubled by the lack of research into how cellphone radiation affects a child’s developing brain — there hasn’t been any research on this topic, only on adults — the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. to reexamine its policies when it comes to radiation standards, reports Time.com’s Bonnie Rochman.  

While the AAP doesn’t appear to be asking the FCC to alter its radiation standards, which in turn would ask cellphone companies to reduce the amount of radiation emitted by their products, the group is asking the commission to acknowledge the obvious. At the moment, the FCC’s radiation standard is based on recommendations for the amount that can be safely absorbed by an adult not a child.  

For AAP President Robert Block this policy isn’t serving the health interests of children but rather ignoring their unique needs and the necessity for protection.  

Advertisement

Said Block: “Children, however, are not little adults and are disproportionately impacted by all environmental exposures, including cellphone radiation. In fact, according to [the], when used by children, the average RF energy deposition is two times higher in the brain and 10 times higher in the bone marrow of the skull, compared with mobile phone use by adults.”

What should parents do to protect their kids without getting rid of cellphones altogether? Experts suggest parents reduce the amount of time a child has a cellphone overall, and in particular, reduce the amount of time that phone is near their head. That could mean asking them to rely mainly on text communications rather than phone calls.    Do your kids have a cellphone? Read what other health threat your phone may be causing.

Advertisement

GET CHATELAINE IN YOUR INBOX!

Subscribe to our newsletters for our very best stories, recipes, style and shopping tips, horoscopes and special offers.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement