Laura Birks1, Mònica Guxens2, Eleni Papadopoulou3, Jan Alexander3, Ferran Ballester4, Marisa Estarlich4, Mara Gallastegi5, Mina Ha6, Margaretha Haugen7, Anke Huss8, Leeka Kheifets9, Hyungryul Lim6, Jørn Olsen10, Loreto Santa-Marina11, Madhuri Sudan12, Roel Vermeulen13, Tanja Vrijkotte14, Elisabeth Cardis15, Martine Vrijheid15. 1. ISGlobal Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: laura.birks@isglobal.org. 2. ISGlobal Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Domain of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Lovisenberggata 8, 0456 Oslo, Norway. 4. Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. De Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010, Valencia, Spain. 5. BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Begiristain Doctorea Pasealekua, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Faculty of Medicine, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University, College of Medicine, 152 Jukjeon-ro, Jukjeon 1, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Exposure and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Lovisenberggata 8, 0456 Oslo, Norway. 8. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Domplein 29, 3512 JE Utrecht, Netherlands. 9. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. 10. Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. 11. Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain; BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Begiristain Doctorea Pasealekua, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, De Francia Ibilbidea, 12, 20012 San Sebastian, Spain. 12. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. 13. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Domplein 29, 3512 JE Utrecht, Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. 14. Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 15. ISGlobal Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have reported associations between prenatal cell phone use and child behavioral problems, but findings have been inconsistent and based on retrospective assessment of cell phone use. This study aimed to assess this association in a multi-national analysis, using data from three cohorts with prospective data on prenatal cell phone use, together with previously published data from two cohorts with retrospectively collected cell phone use data. METHODS: We used individual participant data from 83,884 mother-child pairs in the five cohorts from Denmark (1996-2002), Korea (2006-2011), the Netherlands (2003-2004), Norway (2004-2008), and Spain (2003-2008). We categorized cell phone use into none, low, medium, and high, based on frequency of calls during pregnancy reported by the mothers. Child behavioral problems (reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Child Behavior Checklist) were classified in the borderline/clinical and clinical ranges using validated cut-offs in children aged 5-7years. Cohort specific risk estimates were meta-analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 38.8% of mothers, mostly from the Danish cohort, reported no cell phone use during pregnancy and these mothers were less likely to have a child with overall behavioral, hyperactivity/inattention or emotional problems. Evidence for a trend of increasing risk of child behavioral problems through the maternal cell phone use categories was observed for hyperactivity/inattention problems (OR for problems in the clinical range: 1.11, 95%CI 1.01, 1.22; 1.28, 95%CI 1.12, 1.48, among children of medium and high users, respectively). This association was fairly consistent across cohorts and between cohorts with retrospectively and prospectively collected cell phone use data. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention problems, in the offspring. The interpretation of these results is unclear as uncontrolled confounding may influence both maternal cell phone use and child behavioral problems.
INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have reported associations between prenatal cell phone use and child behavioral problems, but findings have been inconsistent and based on retrospective assessment of cell phone use. This study aimed to assess this association in a multi-national analysis, using data from three cohorts with prospective data on prenatal cell phone use, together with previously published data from two cohorts with retrospectively collected cell phone use data. METHODS: We used individual participant data from 83,884 mother-child pairs in the five cohorts from Denmark (1996-2002), Korea (2006-2011), the Netherlands (2003-2004), Norway (2004-2008), and Spain (2003-2008). We categorized cell phone use into none, low, medium, and high, based on frequency of calls during pregnancy reported by the mothers. Child behavioral problems (reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Child Behavior Checklist) were classified in the borderline/clinical and clinical ranges using validated cut-offs in children aged 5-7years. Cohort specific risk estimates were meta-analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 38.8% of mothers, mostly from the Danish cohort, reported no cell phone use during pregnancy and these mothers were less likely to have a child with overall behavioral, hyperactivity/inattention or emotional problems. Evidence for a trend of increasing risk of child behavioral problems through the maternal cell phone use categories was observed for hyperactivity/inattention problems (OR for problems in the clinical range: 1.11, 95%CI 1.01, 1.22; 1.28, 95%CI 1.12, 1.48, among children of medium and high users, respectively). This association was fairly consistent across cohorts and between cohorts with retrospectively and prospectively collected cell phone use data. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention problems, in the offspring. The interpretation of these results is unclear as uncontrolled confounding may influence both maternal cell phone use and child behavioral problems.
Authors: Joachim Schüz; Eva Böhler; Gabriele Berg; Brigitte Schlehofer; Iris Hettinger; Klaus Schlaefer; Jürgen Wahrendorf; Katharina Kunna-Grass; Maria Blettner Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2006-01-27 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Gian Marco Marzocchi; Christiane Capron; Mario Di Pietro; Enric Duran Tauleria; Michel Duyme; Alessandra Frigerio; Maria Filomena Gaspar; Helena Hamilton; Gérard Pithon; Alexandra Simões; Carine Thérond Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Kerry A Broom; Richard Findlay; Darren S Addison; Cristian Goiceanu; Zenon Sienkiewicz Journal: Bioelectromagnetics Date: 2019-09-15 Impact factor: 2.010