Extract from
"Mobile Phones and Health" (UK Department of Health)
For full article on Department of Health
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Children and young people under 16
Mobile phones are very popular with young
people and have obvious attractions for personal security and keeping in
touch with others. Parents and young people should make their own informed
choices about the use of mobile phones. The current balance of evidence
does not show health problems caused by using mobile phones. However the
research does show that using mobile phones affects brain activity. There
are also significant gaps in our scientific knowledge. Because the head
and nervous system are still developing into the teenage years, the expert
group considered that if there are any unrecognised health risks from
mobile phone use, then children and young people might be more vulnerable
than adults.
The expert group has therefore recommended
that in line with a precautionary approach, the widespread use of mobile
phones by children (under the age of 16) should be discouraged for
non-essential calls. In the light of this recommendation the UK Chief
Medical Officers strongly advise that where children and young people do
use mobile phones, they should be encouraged to:
- use mobile phones for essential
purposes only
- keep all calls short - talking for
long periods prolongs exposure and should be discouraged
The UK CMOs recommend that if parents want
to avoid their children being subject to any possible risk that might be
identified in the future, the way to do so is to exercise their choice not
to let their children use mobile phones.
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