Children today are exposed to cell phones from a very young age, whether it's to play a game or text a friend. Now, British researchers are launching the largest study in the world to investigate whether using mobile phones and other wireless gadgets might affect children's brain development.
The study will monitor the cognitive ability of 2,500 11 to 12 year olds in September, before repeating the tests in 2017. Imperial College London will head up the The Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (Scamp), with Mireille Toledano from the Centre of Environment and Health will lead the study.
"By assessing the children in year 7 and again in year 9 we will be able to see how their cognitive abilities develop in relation to changing use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies," commented Toledano.
The researchers say "very little" is known about what impact these technologies have on children.
The World Health Organization has said research in this area is of the "highest priority".
Some people have suggested that kids' brains may be more affected by the radio frequencies used by wireless tech, because they are still developing.
But there's no evidence yet to suggest it does any harm - and the study will also look at whether using these gadgets could have good effects, too.
"Scientific evidence available to date is reassuring and shows no association between exposure to radiofrequency waves from mobile phone use and brain cancer in adults in the short term - i.e. less than 10 years of use," said Paul Elliott, director of the Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London, who will co-lead the research.
"But the evidence available regarding long term heavy use and children's use is limited and less clear."
