Dr. Hugh Taylor, a medical professor and chief of Yale’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, co-authored a recent study to probe the impact of mobilephone exposure on pregnancies.
“‘We had pregnant mice in cages and we just simply put a mobilephone on top of the cage. In half the mice, the mobilephone was active and in half of the. cages the mobilephone was turned off so it wasn’t transmitting a signal at all,” he said.
He said the researchers allowed the mice to give birth and waited until offspring were young adults before behaviours were tested.
“The mice exposed to mobilephone were more active,” Taylor said. “Their memory was slightly decreased these mice were basically bouncing off the walls and didn’t have a care in the world.’”
Taylor says the study shows there is a “biological basis” to suggest mobilephone exposure can impact pregnancies. He says he is encouraging patients to be cautious with devices and recommends pregnant women hold phones away from the body.
Mobilephone manufacturers, including Blackberry and Apple, also say consumers should keep devices away from the body due to potential safety risks but these warnings often go unnoticed because they are featured in device manuals.
Taylor is slated to join other global researchers on Monday for a panel discussion about the impact mobilephone exposure may have on pregnancies. The panel has been organised by Dr. Devra Davis, who runs the non-profit organization Environmental Health Trust.
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