A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Research has reported an association between children’s exposure to wireless radiation from power lines, household wiring and prolonged tablet use and an increased risk of central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
The researchers described CNS tumors, including gliomas, as the second most common type of childhood cancer. Their findings were based on a case-control study involving 200 children under the age of 16 diagnosed with CNS tumors and nearly 800 children without such diagnoses. All participants lived in Mexico City.
To assess exposure levels, researchers measured extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields in each child’s bedroom over a 24-hour period. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ELF radiation is produced by power lines, electrical wiring and electrical equipment.
The team also evaluated children’s exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation from tablets and cellphones. Data collection spanned from 2017 to 2022, capturing patterns before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic — a period marked by increased reliance on digital devices for remote learning.
The study found a statistically significant association between higher levels of ELF magnetic field exposure and increased risk of CNS tumors.
Researchers also reported a significant link between prolonged tablet use and tumor risk — even when tablets were not connected to the internet and were only generating electricity.
However, the researchers did not find a statistically significant link between cellphone use and increased tumor risk overall. An exception was observed among children aged five and younger who reportedly used cellphones for more than four years.
The authors suggested that children may be particularly vulnerable to radiation exposure because their central nervous systems are still developing.
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They noted that children have higher water content and different ion concentrations in their brain tissue, potentially making it more conductive. Additionally, a child’s smaller head size may allow radiation to penetrate deeper compared to adults.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Lennart Hardell, an oncologist and epidemiologist with the Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, said the reliance on parental interviews to estimate device usage could have influenced the results.
“Parents may underestimate the true use not to feel guilty for having caused the child’s brain tumor,” Hardell noted.
Hardell, who has published extensively on RF radiation and cancer risks, argued that earlier studies demonstrating links between cellphone radiation and CNS tumors were not fully referenced in the new research.
In 2011, he and his colleagues published one of the first large-scale studies suggesting an association between cellphone use and brain cancer.
The issue of wireless radiation and cancer risk has been the subject of ongoing scientific debate. In 2018, the U.S. government’s National Toxicology Program released findings from a 10-year, $30 million study that reported evidence of cancer, including gliomas, in rats exposed to RF radiation.
More recently, a 2025 systematic review commissioned by the World Health Organization concluded there was “high certainty” evidence from animal studies linking wireless radiation exposure to malignant gliomas in the brain and malignant schwannomas in the heart. The review noted that similar tumor types had previously been observed in human studies.
Separately, exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields has long been associated in some studies with an elevated risk of childhood leukemia. A 2019 review reported differences in findings between government-funded and industry-funded studies on the issue.
Beyond cancer, some research has also linked prenatal exposure to ELF magnetic fields with increased risks of miscarriage, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity and asthma in children.
The findings come amid widespread digital device adoption among children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tablets became a primary tool for remote education.
By September 2021, 96% of U.S. public schools provided digital devices to students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A report by Common Sense Media found that 40% of children had access to a tablet by age two.
While the new study adds to the body of literature examining potential health effects of wireless radiation, experts emphasize that further research is needed to clarify long-term risks and mechanisms, particularly in children whose brains and nervous systems are still developing.