But just because something is a common part of modern society doesn’t mean it is automatically a safe option for children. A good example to illustrate this would be the prevalence of fast food outlets on virtually every street corner of this country. Just because junk food is commonly available doesn’t mean it’s good for you or your children. In much the same way, just because wireless devices are common and freely available doesn’t mean parents should assume they’re safe for their children.
In fact, the issue of the safety of wireless devices for children is not hazy or inconclusive. Multiple human and animal studies have linked the use of cellular phones and other mobile devices to the development of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. And, at a pediatric conference back in 2016 which featured doctors and scientists from reputed universities like Yale and Harvard, experts issued strong warnings about the effects of cell phone radiation on the brain development of unborn babies and young children. (Related: Cell phone radiation exposure found to give rats CANCER.)
As reported by the Baltimore Sun, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified both microwave and radio frequency radiation – such as that emitted by wireless devices – as “possible” human carcinogens, i.e. possible causes of cancer in humans.
Several other studies have directly linked exposure to WiFi radiation to behavioral issues, autism, cognitive impairment and other problems. (Related: Cell phone radiation - is your cell phone killing your sperm?)
The Baltimore Sun reported:
In one study, Dr. Hugh Taylor, chair of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, put cellphones on the top of cages containing pregnant mice. He then studied the behavior of the offspring and found that they had decreased memory and were hyperactive.
“They weren't paying attention to their surroundings,” Taylor said in a web call during [the] conference. “They were very hyperactive. They were bouncing off the walls without a care in the world.”
Dr. Martha Herbert of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University conducted another study which found a “strong correlation” between exposure to WiFi and autism. The WiFi electromagnetic field interferes with the calcium signaling which regulates the flow of information to the nucleus of the brain.
“It can make the brain get too excited and irritated,” Herbert said. “It is not inconceivable that it can cause (autism), but there are other factors that can play a role. It certainly can aggravate it.”
And, while exposure to cell phone radiation is bad for everyone, its effects are far worse on children. Natural Health 365 reported that children’s brains absorb around 10 times more radiation from WiFi technology than adults' because their craniums are far thinner. This puts them at a seriously elevated risk of developing cancer.
Of course, the most vulnerable of all children are the unborn, and pregnant women are advised to be especially cautious about their use of wireless technology during pregnancy.
So, just as responsible parents wouldn't allow their children unfettered access to junk food, their children's access to wireless devices needs to be limited and strictly controlled -- for their own benefit.
Sources for this article include:
BioRxiv.org[PDF]