Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42744855›Full record

ReviewJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2026

A systematic review of mobile phone use and pregnancy and fetal outcomes.

Maggie Wang, Yijia Zhang, Meghan Angley, Norman J Kleiman, Xiaobin Wang, Ka Kahe

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Maggie WangDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Yijia ZhangDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Meghan AngleyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Norman J KleimanDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Xiaobin WangCenter on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Ka KaheDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. kk3399@columbia.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPregnancy is a crucial period characterized by profound maternal and fetal biological changes and increasing susceptibility to environmental influences. The widespread use of mobile phones has raised concerns regarding potential health effects during pregnancy. Mobile phones emit non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), which could affect fetal development through thermal and non-thermal mechanisms. Research on mobile phone use during pregnancy remains limited and yields mixed findings.

objectiveThis review systematically evaluated evidence on the associations between maternal mobile phone use-specifically frequency and duration-and pregnancy outcomes.

methodsComprehensive PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar searches identified 20 studies meeting the predetermined inclusion criteria. Covidence was used for title and abstract screening.

resultsWhile several studies reported no significant health threat, others suggested an association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The most consistent evidence emerged for alterations in fetal and neonatal cardiac function and increased risk of preterm birth, highlighting a need for further targeted research on system-specific vulnerabilities. IMPACT: Despite the widespread use of mobile phones, the adverse effects of RF-EMF exposure remain poorly understood, especially among susceptible populations, such as pregnant women. This study synthesizes human evidence to inform the general public, clinicians, researchers, patients, and policymakers about the potential risks associated with prenatal RF-EMF exposure. Although findings remain inconclusive, the evidence suggests possible effects on fetal cardiac function and gestational duration. By identifying methodological limitations and research gaps, this review highlights the need for standardized exposure assessment and well-designed prospective studies to enable more definitive risk evaluation and guide evidence-based recommendations for safer prenatal mobile phone use.

Indexed as

EpidemiologyMaternal and fetal healthPersonal exposureRadiationSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42744855

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.