Are cell phones dangerous to children?
I’ve heard cell phones are bad for babies or infants. Why is this, and what about devices such as radio or tv top antenna?
Should I keep them away from my baby? And, if these things are indeed dangerous, then what would be a safe distance?
Well yes. Cell phones or mobile phones are a special type of two-way radio, and since they have a transmitter that emits radio frequency signals, it is these transmitted radio waves which can pose some risk to small children. This is because a small child’s skull bones are too thin to shield the brain from the radio signals that get transmitted, even when you are not talking on the cellphone.
However a set-top TV antenna is for receiving and does not transmit. Neither does a set-top antenna, like a metal whip, on a radio receiver. (I am talking about a home AM/FM type radio set used to listen to local news and music. Even a shortwave receiver or scanner that just listens-in.)
But two-way radios and other radio transmitters are a different story. They transmit signals, and these can be dangerous to adults and children, depending on the power of the radio set. It is not a good idea to have your body or your head close to any radio transmitter, such as a ham radio or a CB rig.