Epidemiological study (observational study)

Exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields and behavioural problems in Bavarian children and adolescents epidem.

By: Thomas S, Heinrich S, von Kries R, Radon K

Published in: Eur J Epidemiol 2010; 25 (2): 135-141

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Germany to investigate the possible association of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and behavioural problems in children and adolescents.

Further details

The mental health behaviour was assessed by the German version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire which covers positive and negative attributes of behaviour. The children and their parents respectively the adolescents filled in the questionnaires.
Acute symptoms of the same study population were analyzed in Heinrich et al (2010) and chronic symptoms in Heinrich et al (2011).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

overall behavioural problems (emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer relationship problems)

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- RF
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- mobile phone base station
- GSM
- UMTS
- DECT
- W-LAN/WiFi
- personal

Assessment

questionnaire: mobile phone ownership, use of mobile phone and cordless phone, estimated distance to the next base station
dosimeter: 24-hours measurement: personal dosimeter
calculation: based on field strength for 3 frequency ranges (GSM 900; GSM 1800, UMTS and DECT; WLAN) during waking hours

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	quartile 1 for children: 0.13 - 0.15 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 2	quartile 2 for children: 0.15 - 0.17 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 3	quartile 3 for children: 0.17 - 0.20 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 4	quartile 4 for children: 0.20 - 0.92 % of ICNIRP reference level
Reference group 5	quartile 1 for adolescents: 0.13 - 0.15 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 6	quartile 2 for adolescents: 0.15 - 0.17 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 7	quartile 3 for adolescents: 0.17 - 0.21 % of ICNIRP reference level
Group 8	quartile 4 for adolescents: 0.21 - 0.78 % of ICNIRP reference level

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 8–17 years
Characteristics: children (aged between 8 and 12 years) and adolescents (aged between 13 and 17 years)
Observation period: 2006 - 2008
Study location: Germany (4 Bavarian cities)
Data source: registration offices

Study size

Type	Value
Total	6,396
Eligible	5,870
Participants	3,022
Participation rate	52 %

Other:

1498 children and 1524 adolescents participated in interview and exposure measurement

Statistical analysis method:

logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
residential area
education
self-reported environmental worries and general radiofrequency exposure

)

Results (acc. to author)

Exposure to mobile phone frequencies assessed by personal dosimetry was far below the ICNIRP reference level in a range from 0.13 % to 0.92 % of the ICNIRP reference level during waking hours. Altogether 7 % of the children and 5 % of the adolescents showed overall behavioural problems.
Adolescents in the highest exposure group showed statistically significant more overall behavioural problems (OR 2.2, CI 1.1-4.5) whereas this result was not observed for children in the highest exposure group. An analysis of the behaviour subgroups showed an association between the highest exposure group and conduct problems for adolescents (OR 3.7, CI 1.6-8.4) and for children (OR 2.9, CI 1.4-5.9). The authors concluded that more studies were warranted to confirm the findings.

Study funded by

Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

Cabré-Riera A et al. (2021): Association between estimated whole-brain radiofrequency electromagnetic fields dose and cognitive function in preadolescents and adolescents
Papadopoulou E et al. (2017): Maternal cell phone use in early pregnancy and child's language, communication and motor skills at 3 and 5 years: the Norwegian mother and child cohort study (MoBa)
Roser K et al. (2016): Mobile phone use, behavioural problems and concentration capacity in adolescents: A prospective study
Guxens M et al. (2016): Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children
Calvente I et al. (2016): Does exposure to environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields cause cognitive and behavioral effects in 10-year-old boys?
Zheng F et al. (2014): Association between mobile phone use and inattention in 7102 Chinese adolescents: a population-based cross-sectional study
Byun YH et al. (2013): Mobile phone use, blood lead levels, and attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms in children: a longitudinal study
Guxens M et al. (2013): Maternal cell phone and cordless phone use during pregnancy and behaviour problems in 5-year-old children
Sudan M et al. (2012): Prenatal and Postnatal Cell Phone Exposures and Headaches in Children
Divan HA et al. (2012): Cell phone use and behavioural problems in young children
Divan HA et al. (2011): Prenatal cell phone use and developmental milestone delays among infants
Heinrich S et al. (2011): The impact of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields on chronic well-being in young people - A cross-sectional study based on personal dosimetry
Heinrich S et al. (2010): Association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields assessed by dosimetry and acute symptoms in children and adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study
Milde-Busch A et al. (2010): The association between use of electronic media and prevalence of headache in adolescents: results from a population-based cross-sectional study
Kühnlein A et al. (2009): Personal exposure to mobile communication networks and well-being in children--a statistical analysis based on a functional approach
Söderqvist F et al. (2008): Use of wireless telephones and self-reported health symptoms: a population-based study among Swedish adolescents aged 15-19 years
Divan HA et al. (2008): Prenatal and postnatal exposure to cell phone use and behavioral problems in children
Thomas S et al. (2008): Personal exposure to mobile phone frequencies and well-being in adults: a cross-sectional study based on dosimetry
Haarala C et al. (2005): Electromagnetic field emitted by 902 MHz mobile phones shows no effects on children's cognitive function
Preece AW et al. (2005): Effect of 902 MHz mobile phone transmission on cognitive function in children