Leitgeb Norbert
Institute of Clinical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Infeldgasse 18, Graz, Austria.
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2008;158(1-2):36-41. doi: 10.1007/s10354-007-0447-1.
The use of mobile phones by children has in recent years been increasing, the onset starting earlier and earlier. This has led to concern about whether children might be at higher risk and whether mobile phone use should even be forbidden. Advice from highly reputed committees on both national and international levels is contradictory and on the whole more confusing than helpful to worried parents and physicians, but this can be explained. It is shown here that different opinions derived from the same database reflect the different way in which uncertainty of knowledge is dealt with. Based on the assessments of the international committee and established knowledge on children's development it can be concluded that existing exposure limits do in fact provide reasonable safety. Compared to adults, however, children do in fact need to be considered at a relatively higher potential risk, depending on their phase of development. If adults are advised to minimise their exposure, this is even more justified for children. However, circular reasoning must be avoided: the uncertainty-triggered application of precaution must not be misinterpreted as evidence for definite risk.
近年来，儿童使用手机的情况日益增多，开始使用的年龄越来越小。这引发了人们对儿童是否面临更高风险以及是否甚至应禁止使用手机的担忧。国家和国际层面备受赞誉的委员会给出的建议相互矛盾，总体而言，这让忧心忡忡的家长和医生更加困惑而非有所帮助，但这是可以解释的。本文表明，源自同一数据库的不同观点反映了处理知识不确定性的不同方式。根据国际委员会的评估以及关于儿童发育的既有知识，可以得出结论：现有的暴露限值实际上提供了合理的安全性。然而，与成年人相比，儿童根据其发育阶段实际上确实需要被视为处于相对较高的潜在风险中。如果建议成年人尽量减少暴露，那么对于儿童来说就更有理由这样做。然而，必须避免循环论证：因不确定性而采取的预防措施的应用绝不能被误解为存在确定风险的证据。
