OBJECTIVE: To study the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, details of microwave electromagnetic field energy absorption in children, effects of pre and post-natal exposure to those fields, and the impact of mobile phones use on the central nervous system and behavior in children. DATA SOURCE: Articles written in English published from 2004 to 2009 and indexed on PubMed under the keywords: "children", "mobile phones", and "microwaves". DATA SYNTHESIS: Mobile phones emit radiofrequency in the microwave range, with possible thermal (tissue heating) or non-thermal (oxidative stress and chromatin conformation alteration) biological effects. Experimental research suggests that the dissipation of radiofrequency energy in tissues might be higher in children than in adults. Pre-natal exposure of rats to radiofrequency in non-thermal levels has not resulted in teratogenesis, mutagenesis, increased blood-brain barrier permeability or heat shock protein expression in the brain. There is no conclusive evidence of harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on cognitive function in children. Making voice calls or sending text messages at night increases the likelihood of day-time somnolence in adolescents. Children who use mobile phones may present memory impairment and impulsive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: There is no compelling evidence that pre- or post-natal exposure to mobile phone radiation, within the safety limits for human beings, causes damage to the central nervous system development. Nevertheless, cultural patterns related to mobile phones possession and use influence the behavior of children and adolescents and may trigger sleep disorders.
child; microwaves; cellular phone; cognition; behavior; radiation, nonionizing