Context
In recent years, the increasing use of mobile phone in adolescents and more recently in children has generated concern about possible health effects of exposure to radiofrequency. In this context, the aim of the MOBI-KIDS study is to investigate the potential brain tumour risk in children and adolescents related to exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones and by other exposure sources in their environment.
Method
MOBI-KIDS is a prospective and multinational epidemiological study with a case-control design. Cases are all patients aged 10–24 years, residing in one of the geographic study areas and for whom an incident primary brain tumour was diagnosed during the study period. For each case, two controls matched on age, sex and geographic area of residence are selected from subjects hospitalized for appendicitis, a common disease in the age group studied. Data collection is carried out through a detailed questionnaire administered during a face-to-face interview. Records of communications are collected from operators along with the consent of the study participants.
Discussion
The international MOBI-KIDS project as a whole, and especially in France, is a unique opportunity to analyze the relationship between the risk of brain tumours and exposure to radiofrequency and extremely low frequency generated by mobile phones and by other important sources of exposure in the environment of young people.