Researchers call for public awareness campaign on manufacturers advice to keep phones off the body, and for use of virtual reality devices to be limited

In May 2018 researchers from Brazil, USA and Israel published the results of their study to assess the absorption of wireless radiation, from cell phone conversations and virtual reality devices, in the brain and eye of the child and adult. Anatomically based modelling was used in the study and incorporated many diverse characteristics of age and anatomy. Results showed that young eyes and brains absorb substantially higher local radiation doses than adults when a cell phone is held to the ear, or virtual reality devices held in front of the eyes. The researchers called for a public awareness campaign regarding manufacturers’ advice to keep phones off the body, and to limit the use of virtual reality devices (many companies state that a virtual reality device should not be used by children and/or before the age of 12 or 13).

Fernández C et al. Absorption of wireless radiation in the child versus adult brain and eye from cell phone conversation or virtual reality. Environ Res. 2018 May 22 [Epub ahead of print]

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