One of the few perks of modernization, cellular devices or the mobile phones has been a great help to mankind. A small gadget itself, the mobile has helped every person in every corner of the world reachable at the touch of a few buttons.
However, with all the advancements it has helped us achieve, the mobile phone has also emerged as a device leading to radiation-related health problems. This generation’s children have been negatively affected, risking both theirs and our future in the process.
Motivated to dealing with health problems of little ones, Peerless Hospital and BK Roy Research Centre’s leading paediatrician, Dr. Sanjukta Dey, explained the downside of the usage of mobile phones and other similar gadgets by infants.
“The radiation from a mobile is there. There have been many studies about it. But acting ethically on these is not possible. However, these studies have shown that the radiation from mobiles can cause brain problems in infants.”
One such study in 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer at the World Health Organization reached a conclusion that the 30 kHz-300 GHz electromagnetic waves is a ‘Group 2B’, which is a possible human carcinogen leading to cancer.
Apart from cancer, Dr. Dey opined that neurological diseases, physiological addiction, cognition, sleep, and behavioural problems are all parts of the emerging mobile phone related problems for children.
“A newborn’s brain develops very fast every day compared to that of adults. If an infant’s brain’s dividing cells are exposed to electromagnetic waves, it can cause more severe problems. You can see how medical problems like Autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) have increased these days.”
Dr. Dey elaborated on the said topic. “Be it television or mobiles, the moving images are playing in a rapid sequence. And the continuity of watching these moving images can cause the dividing brain cells to get disturbed which in turn cause the brain to become hyperactive.”
The paediatrician also stated that hyperactivity can lead towards sleeplessness for children.
Cartoons and TV shows having an adverse effect on children
For this generation, which is the first to be greatly affected by the electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones, many instances have been recorded where children are unable or are uninterested in orthodox methods of education. According to the doctor, she has faced several cases where parents have complained that their children have lost interest in reading books or writing on paper.
“Children are being unable to keep their concentration intact in written words. Whenever they are reading a book or writing something, they cannot concentrate,” Dr. Dey said. She further elaborated: “A generation of hyperactive inattentive children is growing up who are probably going to be disturbed.”
The doctor also spoke about kids losing interest going outdoors as an effect of cellular gadgets. According to the paediatrician, soap operas and cartoons, among other shows are consumed on mobile devices, making it difficult for children to distinguish between fiction and reality.
“You see, a cartoon is showing a cat and a mouse chasing each other, hurting another with every possible tool. This is causing a negative psychological effect on today’s kids. They are growing up thinking hurting someone is alright.”
She also indicated that parents are taking up a key role in this addiction, where parents feel their children are learning to cope with technological advancements these days along with an increased use of mobile phones by children.
A debatable topic itself, it needs to be understood whether the use of cellular devices should be completely prohibited? Studies indicate that use of smartphones by children leads to a number of health problems as well.
One thing is certain that the future of this generation, the decision makers of tomorrow, has to be protected at all costs. Something that needs to be looked into urgently is the rising use of smartphones and its impending problems in order to make our future safe and bright.
By Sourav Dey
