The study is based on the children delivered by nearly 100,000 women between 1996 and 2002. The data obtained show thatmore than a third of 7-year-olds (35%) used a mobile phone. 17% had already been exposed to mobile telephony before and after birth. And 39% had not been exposed before or after birth. In addition, the exposure categories were defined according to various criteria: number of daily calls, location of the device when not in use (in the purse or in a dress pocket), use of a headset, etc.
According to the researchers, the analysis shows thatchildren exposed to mobile phones before and after birth had a 50% higher risk of behavioral problems. For children exposed only before birth, the risk was 40%.
To validate their results, the researchers took into account other factors such as the time spent by the mother with the child. “Even when it isprematurely interpret the resultsas a causal link, we fear that early exposure to mobile phones may present a risk that, if proven,it would be a public health problem, taking into account the extremely wide use of this technology, “the authors conclude.
