How Do Cell Phones Affect Children's Brains?
More than half of American children own a smartphone by the age of 11, according to NPR. Additionally, research from the University of Iowa shows that 90% of children under the age of 2 have at least moderate proficiency in using electronic devices like cell phones for entertainment. By the age of 3-5, many children can even outperform their parents on these gadgets.
With schools providing more technology, students have equal access to high-speed internet and electronic devices, regardless of their income levels. This increased interaction with technology means all children are subjected to a barrage of EMF waves from devices they use daily.
What Is So Dangerous About EMF Exposure in Children?
A study on the effects of EMF exposure on neurotransmitters in newborn rats showed that increased cell phone radiation caused rises in histamine, dopamine, and adrenaline levels, while serotonin and melatonin levels decreased.
Effects of Hormone Disruption:
- Dopamine: Excessive dopamine can lead to bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, addiction, and schizophrenia.
- Serotonin: Low serotonin levels can cause poor memory, bad moods, sleep difficulties, low self-esteem, aggression, and depression.
- Melatonin: Disruption of melatonin, the sleep hormone, can lead to irregular sleep cycles and deteriorate overall health.
Disruption of these hormones can cause the brain to enter varying states of mental illness, which is not the type of lesson we want our children to learn.
EMF Exposure and Children’s Brain Development
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study found that increased screen time, including cell phone use, can affect:
- A child’s psychology
- Thinking patterns
- Sleep cycles
- Behavior
- Attention span
- Risk of violent or aggressive behavior
Brain scans of children with excessive screen time show premature thinning of the cortex, the brain's outer layer involved in processing information from all five senses. This indicates that children are maturing earlier due to excessive cell phone use, which is not ideal for healthy maturation.
Why Does This Affect Children More Than Adults?
Children’s brains are smaller, and their skulls are thinner than adults'. This means radiation penetrates deeper and affects a larger mass of their brains compared to adults.
Ongoing Debate
There is an ongoing debate about whether cell phone use causes cancer, with more studies suggesting the need for caution and safety measures. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies radiofrequency (RF) as a possible carcinogen. Although cell phones are considered Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF), the length of time and close proximity in which they are used can make them a health hazard.
Bluetooth/Earbud Danger
Bluetooth and earbuds use EMF radiation to transfer sound from devices to the earpiece. Since they are placed against or inside the ear, there is no buffer to protect the brain, especially for children. Wired headphones are safer as they emit significantly lower levels of radiation.
Precautions and Recommendations
Here are some suggestions for parents to help protect their children from EMF exposure:
1. Limit Gadget Use: Children under 6 should not use technical gadgets, even for educational purposes. Ages 6-12 should have limited and monitored screen time.
2. Keep Devices Away at Night: Remove electronic gadgets from children's rooms, especially at night.
3. Promote Physical Activities: Encourage alternatives to tech entertainment like books, board games, and outdoor activities.
4. Limit Headphone Use: Use wired headphones or protective EMF blockers like Nano Buddy wraps for earbuds.
5. Maintain Distance: Keep cell phones and other devices a few feet away from the body while sleeping or streaming.
6. Use Airplane Mode: Use airplane mode for gaming to reduce EMF output.
7. Speaker Mode for Calls: Use speaker mode or a headset instead of holding the phone next to the head.
8. Avoid Using Phones Near Babies: Do not use cell phones while holding a baby or carry phones in baby carriers.
9. Follow Manufacturer’s Guidelines: Keep devices at least 5 millimeters away from the body.
10. Text Instead of Call: Texting emits much lower EMF levels than calling.
11. Avoid Calls in Metal Enclosures: Do not make phone calls inside cars, elevators, trains, or buses, as these environments increase EMF output.
Protect Your Children
These precautions can help us enjoy modern gadgets while protecting children from the potential harm of EMF exposure. Although research is still limited, it is enough to warrant caution and common sense. Products like Nano Buddy’s radiation blockers can assist in preventing the dangerous side effects of our electronic devices.
By being smart about using our smart devices and utilizing radiation-blocking products, we can protect our children and ourselves from potential health risks. For more information and to explore protective solutions, visit nanobuddy.eu.
