Influence of radiofrequency telecommunication signals on children’s brains

Does mobile telephone use lead to health damage in children? In previous advisory reports, the Health Council of the Netherlands determined there were no indications for this. An important caveat was the very limited amount of available data. Since then, new studies have been performed. Based on these recent data, the Electromagnetic Fields Committee of the Health Council issues a new advisory report on this topic. In concrete terms, it examines the effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those generated by mobile telephones, mobile telecommunications antennas or Wi-Fi facilities, on the development and function of the brains of children aged 0 to 16 years. Additionally, the Committee answers the question of whether there is reason to use different exposure limits for children than for adults.

Committee

• Prof. G.C. van Rhoon, Professor of Physical Aspects of Electromagnetic Fields and Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, chairman
• Prof. A. Aleman, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Groningen University
• R.M. van der Graaf, Excutive Director, Knowledge Platform Electromagnetic fields, Bilthoven, advisor
• Dr G. Kelfkens, Physicist, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, advisor
• Prof. H. Kromhout, Professor of Occupational Hygiene and Exposure Classification, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University
• Prof. E. Lebret, Professor of Environmental Health Impact Assessment, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, and Chairman Science forum, Knowledge Platform Electromagnetic Fields, Bilthoven, advisor
• Prof. F.E. van Leeuwen, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, VU University Amsterdam, and Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam
• Dr H.K. Leonhard, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, Groningen, observer
• Prof. H.F.J. Savelkoul, Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology, Wageningen University
• Prof. W.J. Wadman, Professor of Neurobiology, University of Amsterdam
• D.H.J. van de Weerdt, MD, Toxicologist and Medical Environmental Scientist, Aid Services Gelderland Midden / GGD, Arnhem
• Prof. A.P.M. Zwamborn, Professor of Electromagnetic Fields and Health, Eindhoven University of Technology, and TNO, The Hague
• Dr E. van Rongen, Radiobiologist, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary

J. Bakker, physicist at the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, supported the Committee in the area of dosimetry and SAR calculations.