"No screen time” before lights out will prevent delayed sleep onset , and will prevent possible additional mechanisms that may impair sleep quality, such as the mental arousal associated with the viewed contents and the effect of light from the screen and the non-ionizing radiation on the biological clock. In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, which were also adopted by the Israeli Pediatric Association and the Israel Sleep Research Society, digital screens should not be viewed for one hour before sleeping.

1. Since cellphones are imported to Israel from various countries, two main international standards are used to limit the exposure from mobile phones:

Efficacy of radiation shields is not proven, and sometimes their use actually causes increased exposure.

Radiation shields or devices that separate the phone from the head do reduce exposure to some degree, but are liable to also disturb the cellphone’s automatic power control mechanism (automatic power reduction) and to cause it to “work harder” and transmit at higher levels of power.

Power levels of cellphone transmission vary according to reception quality. In areas where reception is weak (areas where there are relatively few antennae, or where there is reception shielding such as in a lift, train etc.), the level of exposure to radiation from the cellphone increases. The reason is that in areas with weak cellular reception, cellphones transmit with greater levels of power (still within the limits permitted for cellphones) in order to overcome the shielding and to allow good communication.

Low level electrical Direct Current (DC) is created in the region where cellphones are charging and there is exposure to low frequency magnetic fields (mainly electrical grid frequency). This exposure may be limited markedly by charging the device in an area far from people.

A cellphone may be used as an access point (similar to a Wi-Fi network access point) allowing use of the Wi-Fi network by other mobile devices in its vicinity, such as tablets and other cellphones or wireless internet source in cars. In this situation it may transmit during communication with other devices. Therefore, when the cellphone is in use as an access point for other mobile devices, it is recommended to distance it from the body.

When sending large files cellphones transmit for a prolonged time, the duration of transmissions lengthens and average transmission output rises. As a result, radiation level of the device increases and therefore it is recommended to distance the cellphone from the body when sending large files, during video conversations or when using other applications involving prolonged transmissions.

The Tnuda Center updated the recommendations for educated use of cellphones from 2008, following its review of the current international recommendations. The updated recommendations refer to limitation of exposure to radiation emitted from cellphones, but also to other effects related to technology use.

• Humans are exposed to various sources of non-ionizing radiation produced by low-frequency radio waves and power grid, either in private space (household appliances) or in public space (power lines, transformers, etc.).
• The discussion of the health risks of exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic radiation often focuses on the possible association between this exposure and the development of cancer.
• Pregnant women are defined as a population at risk, mainly due to the sensitivity of the developing fetus in their uterus to various environmental factors. Until recently, little attention was paid to assessing the potential risks of exposure to low frequency magnetic fields on reproductive health outcomes, including increased risk of miscarriage.
• In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended further research of this association. This recommendation was based on a WHO Working Group report stating that epidemiological studies presented limited evidence of an increased risk of miscarriages associated with exposure to a very low frequency magnetic field. After publication of this report, a few epidemiological studies were conducted to examine the association between exposure to low frequency magnetic fields and miscarriage, but their findings regarding increased risk were not sufficiently substantiated.
• Therefore, to reduce exposure, it is advised to use household appliances in an educated way. The most important reducing exposure rule is to distance the radiation source from the body, since the intensity of radiation falls significantly with distance from the radiation source. In addition, expanding the precautionary principles to include power lines as well as the removal the transformation stations and transformer structures should be considered.

More articles on this subject:

• Why Are Pregnant Women Considered a Population at Risk?
• Low Frequency Range
• Electromagnetic Radiation from the Electricity Grid and Leukemia in Children
• Tips for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the home environment