Mother's Exposure to EMF before and during Pregnancy is Associated with Risk of Speech Problems in Offspring

Abstract

Mother's Exposure to EMF before and during Pregnancy is Associated with Risk of Speech Problems in Offspring Zarei S, Vahab M, Oryadi-Zanjani MM, Alighanbari N, Mortazavi SM. Mother's Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields before and during Pregnancy is Associated with Risk of Speech Problems in Offspring. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2019 Feb 1;9(1):61-68. Abstract Background: Rapid advances in technology, especially in the field of telecommunication, have led to extraordinary levels of mothers' exposures to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) prior to or during pregnancy. Objective: The main goal of this study was to answer this question whether exposure of women to common sources of RF-EMFs either prior to or during pregnancy is related to speech problems in the offspring. Materials and Methods: In this study, mothers of 110 three-to-seven-year-old children with speech problems and 75 healthy children (control group) were interviewed. These mothers were asked whether they had exposure to different sources of EMFs such as mobile phones, mobile base stations, Wi-Fi, cordless phones, laptops and power lines. Chi square test was used to analyze the differences observed between the control and exposed groups. Results: Statistically significant associations were found between the use of cordless phone and offspring speech problems for both before pregnancy and during pregnancy maternal exposures (P=0.005 and P=0.014, respectively). However, due to high rate of mobile phone use in both groups, this study failed to show any link between mobile phone use and speech problems in offspring. Furthermore, significant associations were observed between living in the vicinity of power lines and speech problems again for both before pregnancy and during pregnancy maternal exposures (P=0.003 and P=0.002, respectively). However, exposure to other sources of non-ionizing radiation was not linked to speech problems. Moreover, exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g. radiography before and during pregnancy) was not associated with the occurrence of speech problems. Conclusion: Although this study has some limitations, it leads us to this conclusion that higher-than-ever levels of maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields could be linked to offspring speech problems. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In interviews of mothers of 110 children with speech problems and 75 controls, statistically significant associations were reported between maternal cordless phone use and offspring speech problems both before pregnancy (P=0.005) and during pregnancy (P=0.014). Significant associations were also reported between living near power lines and offspring speech problems both before pregnancy (P=0.003) and during pregnancy (P=0.002). No association was found for mobile phone use (noted as high use in both groups), other non-ionizing sources assessed, or ionizing radiation (radiography) before/during pregnancy.

Outcomes measured

• Offspring speech problems

Limitations

• Exposure assessment based on maternal interview/self-report
• No quantitative exposure metrics (e.g., frequency, SAR, field strength) reported
• Potential confounding not described in abstract
• High prevalence of mobile phone use in both groups may limit ability to detect associations

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.2)
  Wi‑Fi listed among assessed exposure sources, though not linked to outcome in results.
• occupational-exposure (0)
• smart-meters (0)
• 5g-policy (0)
• who-icnirp (0)

{
    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "multiple (cordless phones, mobile phones, mobile base stations, Wi‑Fi, laptops, power lines)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "before pregnancy and during pregnancy (self-reported)"
    },
    "population": "Mothers of children aged 3–7 years with speech problems (cases) and mothers of healthy children (controls)",
    "sample_size": 185,
    "outcomes": [
        "Offspring speech problems"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In interviews of mothers of 110 children with speech problems and 75 controls, statistically significant associations were reported between maternal cordless phone use and offspring speech problems both before pregnancy (P=0.005) and during pregnancy (P=0.014). Significant associations were also reported between living near power lines and offspring speech problems both before pregnancy (P=0.003) and during pregnancy (P=0.002). No association was found for mobile phone use (noted as high use in both groups), other non-ionizing sources assessed, or ionizing radiation (radiography) before/during pregnancy.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure assessment based on maternal interview/self-report",
        "No quantitative exposure metrics (e.g., frequency, SAR, field strength) reported",
        "Potential confounding not described in abstract",
        "High prevalence of mobile phone use in both groups may limit ability to detect associations"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "maternal exposure",
        "pregnancy",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "RF-EMF",
        "cordless phone",
        "power lines",
        "Wi-Fi",
        "mobile phone",
        "speech problems",
        "case-control"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "school-wi-fi",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Wi‑Fi listed among assessed exposure sources, though not linked to outcome in results."
        },
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0,
            "reason": null
        },
        {
            "slug": "smart-meters",
            "weight": 0,
            "reason": null
        },
        {
            "slug": "5g-policy",
            "weight": 0,
            "reason": null
        },
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0,
            "reason": null
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.