No association found between exposure to mobile devices and brain volume alterations in adolescents

Date:
July 9, 2020
Source:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Summary:
A new study of 2,500 Dutch children is the first to explore
the relationship between brain volume and different doses of
radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
How does the use of mobile devices affect children's brains? A team from
the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported
by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has conducted the first epidemiological
study to explore the relationship between brain volume in preadolescents
-- more than 2,500 Dutch children -- and different doses of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF- EMF). No association was found, although
the authors did not rule out the possibility of an association between
using mobile devices with a wireless Internet connection and smaller
volume of the caudate nucleus.


==========================================================================
The potential negative health consequences associated with children's use
of mobile devices have been a matter of concern for some time. Exposure
to RF-EMF is of particular interest, since the preadolescent brain is
still developing and children will experience long periods of exposure
to RF-EMF if they use mobile devices throughout their lives.

Most previous research on this subject has separately assessed the
association between brain development and different RF-EMF sources,
without finding clear associations. The new study, published in
Environment International, aimed to investigate brain volume alterations
using an integrative approach that considered multiple sources of
RF-EMF. This approach allowed a more comprehensive assessment of the
possible impact of RF-EMF exposure on the adolescent brain.

The study used data on more than 2,500 children aged 9-12 years
from the Generation R Study, a birth cohort based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Parents completed a questionnaire on their children's use
of mobile devices. RF-EMF doses to the brain from different sources were estimated and grouped according to three exposure patterns: telephone
calls, screen activities, and other environmental factors such as mobile telephone antennas. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were used to determine the volume of various parts of the brain.

The authors found no association between alterations in total or
lobe-specific brain volume and overall RF-EMF dose. Nor was brain volume associated with the use of mobile devices for telephone calls, which
are the primary contributors of RF-EMF exposure to the brain. However,
a link was found between smaller volume of the caudate nucleus --
a brain structure involved in memory and coordination of movements --
and RF-EMF dose from the use of devices with screens (mobile phones,
tablets and laptops) with a wireless Internet connection.

"The main objective of the study was to determine whether there
were any associations between exposure to RF-EMF and brain volumes,"
commented ISGlobal researcher Alba Cabre', lead author of the study. "Our findings show that this is not the case. The possible association between
the RF-EMF dose received through the use of these devices for screen
activities and the volume of the caudate nucleus is a secondary finding
for which we currently have no explanation. When you surf the Internet on
a mobile phone, tablet or laptop using a wireless connection, the brain's exposure to RF-EMF is much lower than it is when you make phone calls,
for example, because of the distance between the device and your head. In
any case, this result should be interpreted with great caution, since the influence of other factors and the possibility of a chance finding cannot
be ruled out." RF-EMF Exposure or Use-Related Factors? One possible explanation for the findings, besides the brain's exposure to RF- EMF,
is the influence of social or individual factors related to certain
uses of mobile devices. ISGlobal researcher Mo`nica Guxens, coordinator
of the study, commented: "We cannot rule out the possibility that brain alterations may somehow be related to the way in which children use mobile devices." She added: "More research is needed on mobile communication
devices and their possible associations with brain development, regardless
of whether the relationship is due to RF-EMF exposure or other factors
related to the use of these devices." The average overall whole-brain
dose of RF-EMF was estimated at 84.3 mJ/kg/day.

The highest overall lobe-specific dose was estimated in the temporal
lobe (307.1 mJ/kg/day). Both doses are well below the maximum values recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Barcelona_Institute_for_Global_Health_(ISGlobal). Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Alba Cabre'-Riera, Hanan El Marroun, Ryan Muetzel, Luuk van Wel,
Ilaria
Liorni, Arno Thielens, Laura Ellen Birks, Livia Pierotti, Anke
Huss, Wout Joseph, Joe Wiart, Myles Capstick, Manon Hillegers, Roel
Vermeulen, Elisabeth Cardis, Martine Vrijheid, Tonya White, Martin
Ro"o"sli, Henning Tiemeier, Mo`nica Guxens. Estimated whole-brain
and lobe-specific radiofrequency electromagnetic fields doses and
brain volumes in preadolescents. Environment International, 2020;
142: 105808 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105808 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200709141553.htm

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