Is it Safe to Use a Cellphone During Pregnancy?

Filed in archive Medical Issues on May 23, 2008

© Jason DeRusha

Just recently, reports were making the rounds quoting a study that allegedly suggests that cellphone use during pregnancy may result to behavioral problems in children:

A giant study, which surveyed more than 13,000 children, found that using the handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age. And it adds that the likelihood is even greater if the children themselves used the phones before the age of seven.

However, in a more recent report, medical experts and epidemiologists, including one of the authors of the study say that the media coverage of the research has been off target.

The researchers found that the mothers who said they used cell phones during their pregnancy also reported a higher level of behavioral problems in their children.

But while the results suggested an increased risk of hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty concentrating in children whose mothers used cell phones during pregnancy, epidemiological experts - including one of the paper's authors - said it would be a mistake to assume that the findings were conclusive.

There are many reasons why the results of the study should not be taken at face value and need to be verified by more studies. For example, the interviewed mothers may not have given accurate accounts of their cell phone use during their pregnancy. Also, the researchers pointed out that mothers who were heavy users of cell phones were more likely to report behavior problems in their children. And one other possibility, which may indicate non-causality: Mothers who were constantly on their cell phones may have paid less attention to their children, who subsequently acted out.

Read the full report from ABC News.