Abstract

Abstract Summary

Overview

The rapid technological advancement, particularly in telecommunications, has raised concerns about the exposure of mothers to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) before and during pregnancy.

Objective

The study primarily investigates whether exposure to common RF-EMFs sources before and during pregnancy correlates with speech problems in children.

Materials and Methods

• Subjects included mothers of 110 children aged three-to-seven years with speech problems and a control group of 75 healthy children.
• Data were gathered through interviews about exposure to EMFs sources such as mobile phones, base stations, Wi-Fi, cordless phones, laptops, and power lines.
• Statistical analysis was done using the Chi square test to assess exposure differences between groups.

Findings

Significant associations were observed between the use of cordless phones and proximity to power lines with speech problems in children, for both prenatal and during pregnancy exposures.

No significant links were found between mobile phone usage and speech issues due to its high usage rate across both study groups. Exposure to other non-ionizing radiation sources and ionizing radiation like radiography showed no correlation with speech problems.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that high levels of maternal exposure to specific EMFs can be connected to speech issues in offspring, despite some limitations in the study.