May 19, 2008 10:42 AM
Pregnant moms' cell phone use related to a host of problems in kids
This is alarming. Moms, I say you better put away your phones
Warning: Using a mobile phone while pregnant can seriously damage your babyStudy of 13,000 children exposes link between use of handsets and later behavioural problems
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Sunday, 18 May 2008Scientists found that mothers who did use the handsets were 54 per cent more likely to have children with behavioural problems and that the likelihood increased with the amount of potential exposure to the radiation
Women who use mobile phones when pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with behaviural problems, according to authoritative research.
A giant study, which surveyed more than 13,000 children, found that using the handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age.
Read entire article here.
Posted in Pregnancy, birth and labor | Permalink
Comments
Good grief! We use a cell as our home phone! We have no land line! Wonder if a Bluetooth ear piece is as bad...hmmm.
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVIkings | May 19, 2008 11:22 AM
Hmmm... any chance it's an environmental, rather than biological link? Perhaps, moms who are on the phone a lot when they have small children at home are more likely to have children with negative attention-getting behaviors?
Just a thought, no basis for really doubting the study. =)
Posted by: Brenda on the S OR Coast | May 19, 2008 12:46 PM
Brenda - you're right, there may be other factors and this is not a direct cause but part of a cluster of things that would indicate a mom was at risk for having a hyperactive or troubled child.
The article mentions this. But I sure hope they're going to do more definitive studying. We're talking about something potentially damaging that women need to know about.
Posted by: barbara | May 19, 2008 12:51 PM
Is it b/c of the radiation or b/c mom is too busy talking on the phone to pay attention to her kids?
Posted by: Thia | May 19, 2008 3:39 PM
I wish I had known that earlier because I use my cell phone as my primary phone and therefore was on it a lot during my pregnancy.
Posted by: paigeu | May 19, 2008 5:48 PM
I agree with Thia and Brenda. It's not the radiation when when women are pregnant, it's the type of person who is always talking on the phone and ignoring their kids after they're born that causes behavioral problems.
Posted by: Lera | May 19, 2008 6:30 PM
Cell phones emite radiation?! I had no idea!!! I too, wish I had known this when I was pregnant. I'll be interested to hear more about it.
Posted by: Keri L. | May 19, 2008 10:41 PM
The news analysis I just heard said the behavioral problems were caused because the mother's telephone habits continued after birth and that the behavioral issues were due to the child being neglected after birth rather than exposure to radiation.
Posted by: Tom Reed | May 19, 2008 11:35 PM
If this study is from cell phone usage in the early 90's, hasn't the technology changed significantly since then? Phones now use a digital rather than analog signal--doesn't that create less radiation?
Anyway, so far my kids have shown no abnormal behavior problems, even though we use a cell phone as our home phone. So I'll just have to keep hoping for the best.
Posted by: Queen of Carrots | May 20, 2008 8:50 AM
I agree that the evidence in inconclusive.
Still, with hyperactivity/behavior/emotional disorders drastically increasing - putting a strain on families, schools and communities - the most responsible response to this type of information is not to dismiss it out of hand, but to remain open and to maintain scientific curiosity.
Remember the history of the xray machine which I have shared here before? When xray machines were first invented, local shoe stores jumped on the new technology bandwagon, using the machines to fit children's shoes properly. Nowadays, this is shocking, isn't it?
I wonder if the first inklings that shoe store xray machines were harmful were met by doubt and disbelief.
I believe we are facing a national crisis with more and more kids outside the realm of traditional disabilities needing extra support and services in the school system because of behavior clusters with no readily identifiable label. Not to mention the heartbreak in families.
We owe it to our community and to future generations to maintain a healthy curiosity about these studies - and to do everything we can to avoid possible causes of harm.
Posted by: barbara | May 20, 2008 9:38 AM
