A review of five studies involving 4,639 participants found that exposure to mobile phones does not affect learning, memory, attention span, or other cognitive functions. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organisation to examine the impact of radio wave exposure from mobile phones on cognitive abilities.
Conducted by Monash University and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the systematic review aimed to provide an updated health risk assessment of radio wave exposure. The findings will help draft a new Environmental Health Criterion on the subject.
Associate Professor Ken Karipidis from Monash University stated that the motivation for the research was to assess the effects of mobile phone use on the brain, especially since phones are often held close to the head during calls. The review concluded that radio wave exposure from mobile phones does not have a negative impact on cognition.
Out of 3,945 papers initially identified on the topic, only five studies met the criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. These studies involved 4,639 participants from Australia, Singapore, and Switzerland, conducted between 2006 and 2017.
Researchers examined various cognitive functions in relation to radio frequency exposure, including learning and memory, executive function, attention, language, and social cognition. The results showed little to no effect related to cellphone use on cognitive abilities.
While this review suggests that cellphone radiation does not impact cognitive functions, other research highlights potential concerns such as cancer risk, eye strain, neck pain, back pain, and mental health issues associated with prolonged mobile phone use.
Despite the findings, further research is needed to explore the effects of mobile phone use on different populations and cognitive outcomes. Standardizing cognitive function testing and exposure assessment would enable more accurate comparisons in future studies.
With the increasing number of mobile phone users in Australia, it is essential to continue monitoring the potential health impacts of mobile phone use on cognitive functions and overall well-being.
