A new study has found that mobile phone use does not increase the risk of tumors in children. Previous studies have primarily focused on adults, leading the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) to warn that there are insufficient data on the effects of mobile phone use on tumor risk in children and adolescents. However, scientists from the University Pompeu Fabra have now published the results of the international MOBI-Kids study in the journal Environment International. The study observed 2,800 children and adolescents from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and eight European countries, including Germany, between 2010 and 2015. The participants were asked about their mobile phone usage, and nearly 900 of them were diagnosed with a brain tumor between the ages of 10 and 24. However, the study found that the risk of tumors was independent of whether a mobile phone was used regularly or only occasionally. In fact, the data even showed a decreasing tumor risk among mobile phone users.
The authors of the study attribute this to a methodological bias, such as parents reporting usage duration for some participants, which may not have been entirely accurate. The BfS has therefore stated in a press release that there is “no scientifically proven evidence of harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on humans” according to the new study. The investigation thus eliminates scientific uncertainties about the dangers of mobile phones, according to BfS President Inge Paulini.
This study is significant because it provides reassurance to parents and caregivers who may have been concerned about the potential risks of mobile phone use in children. It also highlights the importance of conducting research on the effects of technology on different age groups to ensure that public health policies are based on accurate and up-to-date information. While this study may not be the final word on the subject, it is a step in the right direction towards understanding the potential risks and benefits of mobile phone use.
