Impacts of smartphone radiation on pregnancy: A systematic review

Abstract

Impacts of smartphone radiation on pregnancy: A systematic review Imteyaz El Jarrah, Mohammad Rababa. Impacts of smartphone radiation on pregnancy: A systematic review. Helyion. 2022 Feb;8(2):e08915. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08915. Abstract Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of people's lives, with many tasks and services now being delivered online in the aim of reducing contact and preventing further transmission of the disease. This has resulted in the increase in the use of portable electronic devices (i.e., mobile phones, smartphones, laptops), which emit different frequencies of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation. However, the evidence on the harmful impacts of EMF radiation exposure on the human body, particularly on the abdomen of the female body during pregnancy, is scarce. Further, the related studies in the literature have yet to be systematically reviewed. If unmanaged, the absorption of EMF radiation by the maternal abdomen during pregnancy is associated with serious birth and infant outcomes. Purpose: This study aimed to systematically review the published studies on the direct effects of EMF radiation emitted from mobile phones on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes. Methods: After a systematic search using the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 18 articles were retrieved from 5 databases. Studies which addressed the negative outcomes of EMF radiation exposure on mothers, adults, and children's health were included. The research articles were then sorted based on whether their findings were related to the impacts of EMF on physiological or pregnancy outcomes. Results: The findings of this review showed that EMF radiation exposure is associated with hormonal, thermal, and cardiovascular changes among adults. However, the reviewed studies did not consider the impacts of EMF radiation exposure on pregnancy outcomes specifically, which makes it difficult to draw conclusions from this review. Only four of the reviewed studies were conducted among pregnant women. These studies reported that EMF radiation exposure during pregnancy is associated with miscarriages and fluctuations in the fetal temperature and heart rate variability, as well as infant anthropometric measures. Conclusions: More research should be conducted to identify the specific impacts of EMF radiation exposure on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes. Healthcare providers and researchers are recommended to collaborate to improve public health through public education and updated organizational policies to limit these environmental risks by encouraging the use of safe technologies. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Across 18 included articles, EMF radiation exposure from mobile phones was reported as associated with hormonal, thermal, and cardiovascular changes among adults. The review notes that most included studies did not specifically assess pregnancy outcomes; only four studies among pregnant women reported associations with miscarriages, fetal temperature fluctuations, fetal heart rate variability, and infant anthropometric measures.

Outcomes measured

• hormonal changes
• thermal changes
• cardiovascular changes
• miscarriages
• fetal temperature fluctuations
• fetal heart rate variability
• infant anthropometric measures
• pregnancy outcomes (general)
• birth outcomes (general)
• infant outcomes (general)

Limitations

• Most reviewed studies did not consider pregnancy outcomes specifically, limiting conclusions about pregnancy/birth/infant outcomes.
• Only four included studies were conducted among pregnant women.

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.2)
  Systematic review of health impacts from mobile-phone EMF exposure; relevant to exposure guideline discussions, though no specific organizations are mentioned.

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        "source": "mobile phone / smartphone",
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        "sar_wkg": null,
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    },
    "population": "Adults and pregnant women (subset) in included studies",
    "sample_size": 18,
    "outcomes": [
        "hormonal changes",
        "thermal changes",
        "cardiovascular changes",
        "miscarriages",
        "fetal temperature fluctuations",
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    ],
    "main_findings": "Across 18 included articles, EMF radiation exposure from mobile phones was reported as associated with hormonal, thermal, and cardiovascular changes among adults. The review notes that most included studies did not specifically assess pregnancy outcomes; only four studies among pregnant women reported associations with miscarriages, fetal temperature fluctuations, fetal heart rate variability, and infant anthropometric measures.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Most reviewed studies did not consider pregnancy outcomes specifically, limiting conclusions about pregnancy/birth/infant outcomes.",
        "Only four included studies were conducted among pregnant women."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
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    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
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        "fetal temperature",
        "heart rate variability",
        "systematic review",
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