A new peer-reviewed study has reported a dramatic rise in sleep disorder diagnoses among children and adolescents in Sweden over the past two decades, raising fresh concerns about the potential health impacts of modern technology use.
According to the study, published on January 8 in the journal Diseases, the number of children and teenagers aged 5–19 diagnosed with sleep disorders increased by approximately 17-fold between 2001 and 2024.
Among younger children aged 0–4, diagnoses rose roughly five-fold over the same period. The researchers also found that sleep problems among young adults aged 20–39 increased by about five times.
The authors, Mona Nilsson and Dr. Lennart Hardell, based their findings on an analysis of Sweden’s national health statistics covering sleep disorder diagnoses over a 23-year period.
Nilsson is the co-founder and director of the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, while Hardell is an oncologist and epidemiologist affiliated with the Environment and Cancer Research Foundation and the author of more than 350 scientific papers.
The researchers noted that the sharp increase in sleep disorders coincided with the widespread adoption of mobile phones, greater overall screen time, and the proliferation of wireless infrastructure, including 5G cell towers, which emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation.
They also pointed to increased exposure to blue light from digital screens as a likely contributing factor. According to Harvard Health Publishing, blue light can interfere with the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone critical for regulating sleep.
“The steep increase of sleep problems among children aged 0–19 years is extremely concerning because sleep is of vital importance for good health,” Nilsson said, warning that chronic sleep disruption in childhood can have long-term consequences for physical and mental development.
For years, scientists have cautioned about possible adverse effects associated with prolonged exposure to wireless technology, including disrupted sleep patterns, Nilsson added.
However, she argued that regulatory bodies have not adequately addressed these concerns. She alleged that influential institutions such as the World Health Organization, the European Union, and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tend to prioritize the interests of the telecommunications industry over public health.
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“This situation needs to change rapidly so that the evidence is objectively evaluated, independent experts are heard, and people are informed about the potential health risks of this technology,” Nilsson said.
Hardell echoed the call for greater scrutiny, saying the study’s findings should be taken seriously. While mainstream media have reported on the rising prevalence of sleep problems among children and teenagers, he said the potential role of RF radiation has largely been overlooked.
The study builds on earlier research by Nilsson and Hardell. In October 2025, the pair published findings indicating an “alarming” rise in memory problems among children aged 5–19 in Sweden and Norway, a trend they also associated with increased exposure to RF radiation.
Nilsson suggested the sleep and memory problems observed among Swedish youth may be interconnected, citing research that has linked RF radiation exposure to impaired brain function.
The findings have drawn attention from advocacy groups. Miriam Eckenfels, director of Children’s Health Defense’s Electromagnetic Radiation and Wireless Program, said the new data add to a growing body of research suggesting that RF radiation may be undermining children’s health.
“The evidence keeps getting stronger as more studies associate RF radiation with negative health impacts,” Eckenfels said. “It is time governments take this issue more seriously.”
Eckenfels also criticized recent efforts by the FCC to streamline rules for installing cell towers, arguing that such measures could allow telecom companies to erect infrastructure in communities without residents’ consent, even when there is no clear coverage gap.