Mobile Phone Radiation and Adolescent Memory Study
Author: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Published: 28 Jul 2018 - Updated: 30 Jun 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Research, Study, Analysis
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis: This research, a peer-reviewed study analysis from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute published in Environmental Health Perspectives, examined the relationship between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from wireless devices and memory performance in adolescents. Following almost 700 young people aged 12 to 17 over one year, it found that cumulative RF-EMF brain exposure from mobile phone use may have a negative effect on the development of figural memory, confirming earlier 2015 findings. Its authority rests on being among the world's first epidemiological studies to estimate cumulative RF-EMF brain dose in adolescents, using objectively collected usage data from mobile phone operators, which makes it useful reading for parents, teachers, young people, and anyone concerned about how everyday phone habits may relate to cognitive development.*
At a Glance
- 1 - Texting, gaming, and browsing caused only marginal brain exposure and showed no association with memory development.
- 2 - The effect was more pronounced in teens who held the phone to the right side of the head, where figural memory is mainly located, suggesting absorbed RF-EMF may be responsible.
- 3 - Researchers advise that risk can be reduced by using headphones or the loudspeaker while calling, especially when network quality is low and the phone operates at maximum power.
- Topic Definition: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, commonly abbreviated as RF-EMF, are a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted by wireless communication technologies such as mobile phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, and cellular network towers. When a mobile phone is held close to the head during a call, the brain becomes the most relevant site of exposure, which is why researchers study the possible effects of cumulative RF-EMF dose on cognitive functions like memory. While much of the science in this area remains inconclusive, RF-EMF exposure is an active field of public health inquiry, and precautionary measures such as using headphones or a speakerphone are often suggested to reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the brain.
Introduction
The rapid evolution of information and communication technologies (ICT) goes along with an increase in exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in our daily life. The most relevant exposure source to the brain is the use of a mobile phone close to the head.
Several studies have been conducted to identify potential health effects related to RF-EMF, though results have remained inconclusive. The research conducted by scientists at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) looked at the relationship between exposure to RF-EMF from wireless communication devices and memory performance in adolescents.
The study follows up a report published in the scientific journal Environment International in 2015 with twice the sample size and more recent information on the absorption of RF-EMF in adolescents' brains during different types of wireless communication device use. These are the world's first epidemiological studies to estimate cumulative RF-EMF brain dose in adolescents.
Main Content
Media Usage and Brain Exposure in Young Adults
The study published on 19 July 2018 found that cumulative RF-EMF brain exposure from mobile phone use over one year may have a negative effect on the development of figural memory performance in adolescents, confirming prior results published in 2015. Figural memory is mainly located in the right brain hemisphere and association with RF-EMF was more pronounced in adolescents using the mobile phone on the right side of the head. "This may suggest that indeed RF-EMF absorbed by the brain is responsible for the observed associations." said Martin Röösli, Head of Environmental Exposures and Health at Swiss TPH.
Other aspects of wireless communication use, such as sending text messages, playing games or browsing the Internet cause only marginal RF-EMF exposure to the brain and were not associated with the development of memory performance.
"A unique feature of this study is the use of objectively collected mobile phone user data from mobile phone operators." said Röösli. He emphasised that further research is needed to rule out the influence of other factors. "For instance, the study results could have been affected by puberty, which affects both mobile phone use and the participant's cognitive and behavioural state."
The data gathered from the Health Effects Related to Mobile phone usE in adolescentS (HERMES) cohort looked at the relationship between exposure to RF-EMF and development of memory performance of almost 700 adolescents over the course of one year.
Participants, aged 12 to 17 years, were recruited from 7th to 9th public school grades in urban and rural areas of Swiss-German speaking Switzerland.
Minimising the Risk of RF-EMF Exposure
The potential effect of RF-EMF exposure to the brain is a relatively new field of scientific inquiry.
"It is not yet clear how RF-EMF could potentially affect brain processes or how relevant our findings are in the long-term." said Röösli. "Potential risks to the brain can be minimised by using headphones or the loud speaker while calling, in particular when network quality is low and the mobile phone is functioning at maximum power."
Publication
- The study was conducted by Swiss TPH in collaboration with the European Union project GERoNiMO, which aims to improve the knowledge of whether and to what extent RF-EMF affects health.
- The work on dose calculations was conducted in collaboration with Belgian scientists.
- The project was funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Foerster M., Thielens A., Joseph W., Eeftens M., Röösli M. (2018) A prospective cohort study of adolescents' memory performance and individual brain dose of microwave radiation from wireless communication. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Schoeni A., Roser K., Röösli M. (2015) Memory performance, wireless communication and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: a prospective cohort study in adolescents. Environmental International. Volume 85. Page 343-351.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The careful wording of this study is as important as its headline - the researchers point to an association rather than proof, and they openly note that puberty itself shapes both phone habits and cognitive development, leaving room for other explanations. Still, the practical advice costs nothing to follow, and for parents weighing how much to worry, the simple step of moving the phone away from the head during a call is a reasonable response to a question science has not yet fully settled.*Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and published on 28 Jul 2018, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.