Risks for health associated with use modes and radiation level of cell phones in modern younger schoolchildren

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Abstract

Introduction. The wide coverage of modern schoolchildren with cell phones (CP), the increased vulnerability of children to radiofrequency radiation, the lack of age standards for safe CP use determined the aim of the study: to identify CP radiation levels and use modes, associated with the health risks in modern schoolchildren.

Material and methods. In a cross-sectional study of 80 modern schoolchildren (8.57 ± 0.75 y.o; 2017-2018 education years) without neurological complications in history by measuring CP power flux density (PFD), questioning and risks calculating, there were determined the radiation levels and daily modes of СT use (calls number - CN, duration of call - CD, and calls total duration - CTD), which are associated with the risks of clinically significant health deviations (dizziness, 4 or more colds per year, and frequent (several times a week) headaches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, low mood, poor attention, and memory).

Results. The risk of dizziness increases when children use CP with a maximal PFD ≥100 µW/cm² (OR = 4.44; 95% CI: 1.15-9.27), or if CTD increases from 6.25 to ≥12 minutes (OR= 8.55; 95% CI 1.74-7.11). Increasing CN from 1-2 to 3-5 causes the risk of frequent anxiety (OR 7.86; 95% CI 1.26-31.8). Using the «push-button» CPs in comparison with smartphones is associated with the frequent low mood (OR= 5.42; 95% CI: 1.47–6.10).

Conclusion. The use of «push-button» CР, CР with PFD ≥ 100 µW/cm², CTD ≥ 6.25 minutes, CN > 1-2 cause risks for children’s health

About the authors

Olga A. Vyatleva

Research Institute of Hygiene and Health of Children and Adolescents «National Medical Research Center of Children’s Health» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Author for correspondence.
Email: olgavyat@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2940-1855

MD, Ph.D., , DSci., leading researcher of the laboratory of complex problems of hygiene of children and adolescents of the Research Institute of Hygiene and Health of Children and Adolescents «National Medical Research Center of Children’s Health» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

e-mail: olgavyat@mail.ru

Russian Federation

A. M. Kurgansky

Research Institute of Hygiene and Health of Children and Adolescents «National Medical Research Center of Children’s Health» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: noemail@neicon.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7688-586X
Russian Federation

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