A recent study funded by the French Ministry of Ecology published in Neurotoxicology found that exposure to cell phone radiation before and after birth impacted brain development in rodents at levels considered safe for humans by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
In short:
- Rodents exposed to cell phone radiation at a 900MHz frequency during pregnancy and after birth developed fewer synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory.
- Exposed rodents displayed a dysregulation of proteins essential to the brain’s ability to transmit signals between neurons.
- Neural stem cells exposed to cell phone radiation had an increase in the number of double-strand DNA breaks.
Key quote:
“These data support the hypothesis of a vulnerability of developing organisms towards RF-EMF exposures and to maintain caution regarding RF-EMF exposures of pregnant women and young children during telecommunication use.”
Why this matters:
Everyday exposure to wireless radiation—from cell phones, laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi routers—is steadily increasing, raising urgent questions about health risk. Government safety limits have been criticized for a lack of protection as they are based solely on effects of overheating but not for biological effects. This study adds to the growing scientific evidence reporting impacts to brain development, highlighting pregnancy as a particularly vulnerable period of exposure. Previous studies have linked prenatal and postnatal exposure to lower cognitive scores , behavioral issues, and memory damage. Government “safety” limits have been criticized by scientists for a lack of protection as they are based solely on effects of overheating but not for biological effects such as the brain development changes documented in this study.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has repeatedly called for an update to wireless exposure regulations, highlighting how children are uniquely vulnerable as they absorb proportionately higher RF radiation into their brains and bodies during sensitive stages of development. Many countries have implemented more restrictive exposure limits to protect children in schools and at home, in line with expert recommendations on how to mitigate health risks.
Related EHN coverage:
- Wireless radiation levels in the home linked to neurodevelopmental delays in children
- Wi-Fi laptop use in classrooms increases children’s exposure to wireless radiation, study finds
- Wireless radiation exposure during pregnancy leads to brain damage in rats, study finds
More resources:
- Doctors and Scientists on Cell Phone Radiation
- Scientific Appeals on Wireless and EMF Health Effects
- Factsheet on Country Comparison of Wireless Safety Limits
Bodin, Raphaël et al. for Neurotoxicology vol. 111. Dec. 2025
