July 19, 2018

expert reaction to study looking at adolescent memory and radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (e.g. from mobile phones),

A prospective cohort study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, examines the association between mobile phone radiation and memory performance in adolescents.

Prof Malcolm Sperrin, Director of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“This is a useful study from well-respected organisations.  The study cohort and associated data set are perfectly reasonable and the statistical analysis is well conducted.  There is a small suggestion of memory effects arising from the exposure to the brain of EMF but the effect is very small and it is not possible to unambiguously associate and cause and effect at this stage.  Studies of this type add to the volume of knowledge in this contentious area and are to be welcomed especially where the study is designed with this care.  The tentative and subtle correlation certainly is justification for further studies.”

* ‘A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication’ by Milena Foerster et al. was published in Environmental Health Perspectives on Thursday 19 July 2018. 

Declared interests

None received.