Are Pregnancy and Cell Phones a Dangerous Mix?
By Dana Sullivan

Last summer, a study published in the journal Epidemiology suggested that women who use cell phones during pregnancy -- and let their small children use cell phones -- increase their child's risk of serious behavior problems by 80 percent. At least that was what some news organizations reported.

But the researchers involved in the study point out that they didn't actually conclude that the cell phone/bad behavior link was a "causal" one. "It was just statistical," says one of the researchers, Jorn Olsen, Ph.D., professor and chair of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health, in a press release. By causal, Olsen means the research didn’t show a direct link, but rather establish a statistical connection between usage and behavioral problems. Olsen and his team had looked at a survey of mothers of 13,159 Danish children who were enrolled in a long-term study examining how various exposures during pregnancy affect children's long-term health. The children were seven years old when the survey was completed.

The children whose mothers used cell phones while pregnant had a 54% higher risk of behavior problems -- emotional and behavioral problems, hyperactivity, inattention, and problems with peers. Kids who used cell phones themselves had an 18% higher risk of behavior problems. And kids with both exposures had an 80% higher risk of behavior problems. The researchers did not examine whether or not women who use their cell phones frequently pay less attention to their children, which could also result in behavioral problems.

Dr. Olsen says the study suggests "calls for caution in using cell phones during pregnancy and early childhood," and that not knowing what may cause a health problem related to cell phones does not mean that the problem does not exist. "We have to keep an open mind, especially for a technology that is becoming commonplace around the world," says Dr. Olsen. “We hope that our results will inspire others to study cell phone use early in life” he adds. “If cell phone use during pregnancy or in early childhood causes an increase in childhood behavioral problems or other health problems we need to know as soon as possible. Children may well be more susceptible than adults to exposure from cell phones.”

For more tips on how to protect you and your child when using a cell phone, go to: http://www.environmentaloncology.org/node/201#10Precautions.