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Association of excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy with birth weight: an adjunct study in Kumamoto of Japan Environment and Children's Study.

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Lu X, Oda M, Ohba T, Mitsubuchi H, Masuda S, Katoh T. · 2017

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Excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy linked to lower birth weight and increased infant emergency medical needs.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers studied 461 pregnant women to examine whether heavy mobile phone use during pregnancy affects baby birth weight. They found that babies born to mothers who used mobile phones excessively during pregnancy had lower birth weights and required emergency medical transport more frequently than babies whose mothers used phones normally. This suggests that intense phone use during pregnancy may pose risks to developing babies.

Why This Matters

This study adds important evidence to growing concerns about EMF exposure during pregnancy, when developing babies are most vulnerable to environmental influences. The research is particularly significant because it examined real-world usage patterns rather than laboratory conditions, finding measurable health impacts from what many consider normal technology use. The connection between excessive mobile phone use and both lower birth weight and increased emergency medical needs suggests the effects extend beyond pregnancy into early infant health. What this means for you: while the study doesn't define specific usage thresholds, pregnant women may want to minimize phone use, especially holding devices close to the body for extended periods. The science demonstrates that pregnancy represents a critical window when even common EMF exposures may have lasting consequences for child development.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The aim of the present study was to determine the associations of excessive mobile phone use with neonatal birth weight and infant health status.

A sample of 461 mother and child pairs participated in a survey on maternal characteristics, infant ...

Our results showed that pregnant women tend to excessively use mobile phones in Japan. The mean infa...

Excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy may be a risk factor for lower birth weight and a high rate of infant emergency transport.

Cite This Study
Lu X, Oda M, Ohba T, Mitsubuchi H, Masuda S, Katoh T. (2017). Association of excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy with birth weight: an adjunct study in Kumamoto of Japan Environment and Children's Study. Environ Health Prev Med. 22(1):52, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{x_2017_association_of_excessive_mobile_2384,
  author = {Lu X and Oda M and Ohba T and Mitsubuchi H and Masuda S and Katoh T.},
  title = {Association of excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy with birth weight: an adjunct study in Kumamoto of Japan Environment and Children's Study.},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29165149/},
}
PubMed: 29165149

Cited By (24 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2017 Japanese study of 461 pregnant women found that excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weights in babies. Infants born to heavy phone users also required emergency medical transport more frequently than those whose mothers used phones normally.
Research suggests potential risks. A study in Japan found that babies whose mothers used mobile phones excessively during pregnancy had lower birth weights and higher rates of emergency medical transport compared to babies of mothers with ordinary phone use patterns.
A 2017 study of Japanese pregnant women indicates possible effects on fetal development. Researchers found that excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy was linked to reduced infant birth weight and increased need for emergency medical transport after birth.
Japanese research identified two main risks from excessive mobile phone use during pregnancy: lower birth weight in babies and significantly higher rates of infant emergency transport. The study examined 461 pregnant women and their newborns to reach these conclusions.
Heavy mobile phone use during pregnancy may negatively impact birth outcomes. A Japanese study found that excessive phone use was associated with lower infant birth weights and increased emergency medical transport rates compared to ordinary phone use levels.