That’s the question asked by Russia’s official radiation watchdog organization as it studied the link between a mother’s mobile phone usage during pregnancy and the dispositions of their children after birth. The study involved more than 13,000 women, 54% of whom used cell phones during pregnancy and who also reported behavioral problems in their children. The behavioral issues included difficulties with relationships, emotions, and hyperactivity.

The study further revealed that when a child was exposed in the womb to his or her mother’s cell phone and who also used cell phones themselves before turning 7 years old, the likelihood of behavioral disorders rose to 80%.

Of the children exposed to cell phones during fetal development and before the age of 7, the Russian researchers found:

• 25% higher risk for emotional turmoil;
• 24% more risk for troubled relationships with other children;
• 35% increased risk for hyperactive behaviors; and
• 49% higher risk for problematic behaviors in general.

Increased risk was associated with increased use of mobile phones.

A spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency of the United Kingdom (UK) calls for further study although it has previously warned against children using cell phones in excess. The UK agency suggests causes for the behavioral difficulties other than radiation from the phones.

Professor Leeka Kheifets and three co-authors conducted earlier research which revealed no adverse effect to a child exposed to cell phones although there did seem to be a link between behavioral problems and exposure to mobile phone use. They suggest other explanations for behavioral issues, such as less time spent with a child when his or her mother uses a cell phone to excess. Kheifets is a faculty member of the University of California, Los Angeles.

While radiation emitted from cell phones is believed to penetrate the skin no more than one or two centimeters deep, this level of penetration is much too shallow to reach a fetus. Instead, other studies point to the radiation’s effect on melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep and is passed from mother to fetus via the placenta.

The Russian study, conducted in conjunction with researchers in Aarhus, Denmark, is scheduled for July publication in the medical journal, Epidemiology.

Source: Daily Mail