May 20, 2014

launch of Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP)

The Department of Health commissioned Imperial College London to begin an independent research study called SCAMP to investigate whether use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies might have effects on children’s neurocognitive or behavioural development.  Over 160 secondary schools in Greater London received invitations to take part in this 3 year study on 20^th May 2014.  SCAMP will follow the health of the new year 7 pupils in participating schools from September.

70% of 11-12 year olds own a mobile phone, and approximately 80% of secondary schools make use of wireless network technology.  Scientists remain uncertain as to whether children’s developing brains are more vulnerable than those of adults to radio wave exposures from mobile phones.  SCAMP will be the largest study in the world to date to address those uncertainties, specifically with regards to cognitive development.

Scientists leading this research came to the SMC.

Speakers:

Dr Mireille Toledano, Senior lecturer in Epidemiology, MRC-PHE Centre in Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London

Prof Paul Elliott, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, MRC-PHE Centre in Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London

Dr Iroise Dumontheil,‎ Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Educational Neuroscience, Birkbeck University, London