Radiation from smartphones could be behind teenage memory loss
According to a new study, radiation from smartphones could be impairing the memory of teenagers.
Researchers found that extensive use of mobile phones over one year had a negative impact on adolescent’s figural memory.
Figural memory mainly resides in the brain’s right hemisphere and allows people to understand objects, including shapes, patterns and images.
The study revealed that teenagers who place a smartphone next to their right ear are the most susceptible to radiation exposure.
While surfing the Internet, playing mobile games and texting also negatively affect memory, the study found that these activities have a smaller impact.
Scientists from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) conducted the study, which evaluated the smartphone usage of 700 adolescents aged 12 through 17.
They looked at the relationship between the daily exposure to radiation (RF-EMF) emitted by the teenagers’ smartphones and how well the adolescents performed on memory tests.
Martin Röösli, Head of Environmental Exposures and Health at Swiss TPH, said that while there is an observed relationship between the level of RF-EMF exposure and memory loss, additional research is necessary to rule out the possibility of other factors contributing to the observed impairment.
Here are a few simple steps that you can take to reduce your exposure to RF-EMF emissions from your smartphone:
- Use your mobile device in speakerphone mode to keep it from close contact with your head and ears
- Send a text message rather than make a phone call
- Place your smartphone in airplane mode when you are not using it