Logo

Children At Risk From smartphone radiation

Children At Risk From smartphone radiation
The Herald Sun
October 12, 1999

Children absorb up to 50 per cent more radiation from using mobile phones than adults.

The younger the child, the more radiation their brain soaks up. Scientists have found the thin skulls and smaller heads of children offer less protection against microwaves sent out by the phones. As a result, they may stand a far greater risk of damage to brain cells.

While the effects of long-term mobile phone use have yet to be proved, campaigners claim they cause brain tumours, memory loss and headaches.

The study was carried out by Professor Om Ghandi, head of electrical engineering at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He found 10 year-olds absorbed 10 per cent more radiation than adults when making a call, and five-year-olds 50 per cent more. “The handsets are logically closer to the brain and the brain cells than with adults,” he said.