Mobile Phones, Wireless Technologies and Cognitive and Behavioural Outcomes in the SCAMP Adolescent Cohort

Introduction: Scientists remain uncertain as to whether children’s developing brains are more vulnerable than those of adults to radiofrequency (RF) waves emitted from mobile phones and other wireless devices. The Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) is a three-year prospective cohort study of adolescents across London, UK which aims to investigate whether children’s use of mobile phones and other wireless devices influences their neurocognitive/behavioural development. Methods: Data on cognitive function, wireless device use and lifestyle are collected at baseline and follow-up via school-based computerised assessments and optional parent/pupil home-based questionnaires. Parents are invited to consent to linkage of their child’s assessment data with routine records (e.g. health and educational records, mobile traffic data), thus allowing for comparisons between self-reported and objective mobile phone use. Biological samples (e.g. urine, saliva) are being collected to provide additional information about potential confounders such as puberty. A RF personal monitoring study is also being conducted in a subset of the cohort to gain an in-depth understanding of children’s personal RF exposure and the relative contribution of each RF source. Pupils are asked to carry a personal exposimeter with integrated GPS tracking for 48 hours, complete a smartphone activity diary and a paper questionnaire, and provide a urine and saliva sample. Results: Baseline data have been collected from 5,504 pupils (53.2% female, mean age 12.0 (SD 0.4); 42.3% White, 20.3% South Asian, 15.9% Black, 11.5% Mixed, 9.9% Other). Preliminary analysis shows that over 80% of participants own a mobile phone. To date, personal monitoring study data have been collected from 40 pupils. Conclusions: SCAMP will improve our understanding of children’s RF exposures and cognitive function and will provide an evidence base to inform public health policy in this area.