Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children

Mònica Guxens; Roel Vermeulen; Manon van Eijsden; Johan Beekhuizen; Tanja G M Vrijkotte; Rob T van Strien; Hans Kromhout; Anke Huss

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021

Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children

Mònica Guxens, Roel Vermeulen, Manon van Eijsden, Johan Beekhuizen, Tanja G M Vrijkotte, Rob T van Strien, Hans Kromhout, Anke Huss

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the exposure of young children to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and potentially associated health effects. We assessed the relationship between residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations, residential presence of indoor sources, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and children's cognitive function at 5-6 years of age.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study on children aged 5-6 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, the Netherlands (n=2354). Residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was estimated with a 3D geospatial radio wave propagation model. Residential presence of indoor sources (cordless phone base stations and Wi-Fi) and children's cell phone and cordless phone use was reported by the mother. Speed of information processing, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuomotor coordination was assessed using the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks.

RESULTS: Residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources was associated with an improved speed of information processing. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations and presence of indoor sources was associated with an improved inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility whereas we observed a reduced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility with higher personal cordless phone use. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was associated with a reduced visuomotor coordination whereas we observed an improved visuomotor coordination with residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources and higher personal cell phone use.

CONCLUSIONS: We found inconsistent associations between different sources of RF-EMF exposure and cognitive function in children aged 5-6 years.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	364-374
Number of pages	11
Journal	Environmental Research
Volume	150
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021
Publication status	Published - 24 Jun 2016

Keywords

Child development
Cognition
Electromagnetic radiation
Radio waves
Wireless technology

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Guxens, M., Vermeulen, R., van Eijsden, M., Beekhuizen, J., Vrijkotte, T. G. M., van Strien, R. T., Kromhout, H., & Huss, A. (2016). Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children. Environmental Research, 150, 364-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021

@article{c733e941244841f39cd5145ff16cf250,

title = "Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Little is known about the exposure of young children to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and potentially associated health effects. We assessed the relationship between residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations, residential presence of indoor sources, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and children's cognitive function at 5-6 years of age.METHODS: Cross-sectional study on children aged 5-6 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, the Netherlands (n=2354). Residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was estimated with a 3D geospatial radio wave propagation model. Residential presence of indoor sources (cordless phone base stations and Wi-Fi) and children's cell phone and cordless phone use was reported by the mother. Speed of information processing, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuomotor coordination was assessed using the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks.RESULTS: Residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources was associated with an improved speed of information processing. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations and presence of indoor sources was associated with an improved inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility whereas we observed a reduced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility with higher personal cordless phone use. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was associated with a reduced visuomotor coordination whereas we observed an improved visuomotor coordination with residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources and higher personal cell phone use.CONCLUSIONS: We found inconsistent associations between different sources of RF-EMF exposure and cognitive function in children aged 5-6 years.",

keywords = "Child development, Cognition, Electromagnetic radiation, Radio waves, Wireless technology",

author = "M{\`o}nica Guxens and Roel Vermeulen and {van Eijsden}, Manon and Johan Beekhuizen and Vrijkotte, {Tanja G M} and {van Strien}, {Rob T} and Hans Kromhout and Anke Huss",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

day = "24",

doi = "10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021",

language = "English",

volume = "150",

pages = "364--374",

journal = "Environmental Research",

issn = "0013-9351",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

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Guxens, M, Vermeulen, R, van Eijsden, M, Beekhuizen, J, Vrijkotte, TGM, van Strien, RT, Kromhout, H & Huss, A 2016, 'Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children', Environmental Research, vol. 150, pp. 364-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021

Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children. / Guxens, Mònica; Vermeulen, Roel; van Eijsden, Manon et al.
In: Environmental Research, Vol. 150, 24.06.2016, p. 364-374.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children

AU - Guxens, Mònica

AU - Vermeulen, Roel

AU - van Eijsden, Manon

AU - Beekhuizen, Johan

AU - Vrijkotte, Tanja G M

AU - van Strien, Rob T

AU - Kromhout, Hans

AU - Huss, Anke

PY - 2016/6/24

Y1 - 2016/6/24

N2 - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the exposure of young children to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and potentially associated health effects. We assessed the relationship between residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations, residential presence of indoor sources, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and children's cognitive function at 5-6 years of age.METHODS: Cross-sectional study on children aged 5-6 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, the Netherlands (n=2354). Residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was estimated with a 3D geospatial radio wave propagation model. Residential presence of indoor sources (cordless phone base stations and Wi-Fi) and children's cell phone and cordless phone use was reported by the mother. Speed of information processing, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuomotor coordination was assessed using the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks.RESULTS: Residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources was associated with an improved speed of information processing. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations and presence of indoor sources was associated with an improved inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility whereas we observed a reduced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility with higher personal cordless phone use. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was associated with a reduced visuomotor coordination whereas we observed an improved visuomotor coordination with residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources and higher personal cell phone use.CONCLUSIONS: We found inconsistent associations between different sources of RF-EMF exposure and cognitive function in children aged 5-6 years.

AB - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the exposure of young children to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and potentially associated health effects. We assessed the relationship between residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations, residential presence of indoor sources, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and children's cognitive function at 5-6 years of age.METHODS: Cross-sectional study on children aged 5-6 years from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, the Netherlands (n=2354). Residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was estimated with a 3D geospatial radio wave propagation model. Residential presence of indoor sources (cordless phone base stations and Wi-Fi) and children's cell phone and cordless phone use was reported by the mother. Speed of information processing, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuomotor coordination was assessed using the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks.RESULTS: Residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources was associated with an improved speed of information processing. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations and presence of indoor sources was associated with an improved inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility whereas we observed a reduced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility with higher personal cordless phone use. Higher residential RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone base stations was associated with a reduced visuomotor coordination whereas we observed an improved visuomotor coordination with residential presence of RF-EMF indoor sources and higher personal cell phone use.CONCLUSIONS: We found inconsistent associations between different sources of RF-EMF exposure and cognitive function in children aged 5-6 years.

KW - Child development

KW - Cognition

KW - Electromagnetic radiation

KW - Radio waves

KW - Wireless technology

U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021

DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.021

M3 - Article

C2 - 27348251

SN - 0013-9351

VL - 150

SP - 364

EP - 374

JO - Environmental Research

JF - Environmental Research

ER -

Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5-6 years old children

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