In response to an extensive U.S. National Toxicology Program study showing exposure to wireless radiation significantly increased the prevalence of highly malignant heart and brain cancers in rodents, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has reinforced its recommendations to reduce wireless cell phone exposure for children and pregnant mothers.
“The findings of brain tumors (gliomas) and malignant schwann cell tumors of the heart in the NTP study, as well as DNA damage in brain cells, present a major public health concern because these occurred in the same types of cells that have been reported to develop into tumors in epidemiological studies of adult cell phone users,” stated Ronald L. Melnick, PhD, National Institutes of Health toxicologist who lead the NTP study. He continues: “For children the cancer risks may be greater than that for adults because of greater penetration and absorption of cell phone radiation in the brains of children and because the developing nervous system of children is more susceptible to tissue-damaging agents. Based on this new information, regulatory agencies need to make strong recommendations for consumers to take precautionary measures and avoid close contact with their cell phones, and especially limit or avoid use of cell phones by children.”
The AAP has updated their webpage entitled Cell Phone Radiation & Children’s Health: What Parents Need to Know. “They’re not toys. They have radiation that is emitted from them and the more we can keep it off the body and use (the phone) in other ways, it will be safer,” said Jennifer A. Lowry, M.D., chair, AAP Council on Environmental Health Executive Committee.
Sources:
“Report of Partial Findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposures), “ May 19, 2016, National Toxicology Program Study, http://biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf.
Melissa Jenco, “AAP Responds to Study Showing Link Between Cell Phone Radiation, Tumors in Rats,” May 27, 2016, AAP News & Journals. http://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/05/27/Cancer052716.
Student Researcher: Sarang Jogi, San Francisco State University
Faculty Evaluator: Kenn Burrows, San Francisco State University