Electronic devices may be deemed the crowning achievement of decades-long scientific efforts in their own right, signifying the human quest for ultimate comfort. People are so used to utilizing electronic devices in their everyday activities that they seem to have become inseparable from their life. Of course, there is no denying they do a lot to facilitate human lives by connecting people, updating on the latest news, revealing weather broadcast, allowing watching movies, to name only a number of benefits. While used by many, electronic gadgets do not necessarily mean they pose no threat to human health. One should not disregard electromagnetic fields produced by such devices, the radiation threat, sleep disturbance, cognitive and developmental problems, and the possibility of users’ developing skin allergy in response to possibly toxic assembly components. Thus, despite their obvious usefulness, electronic devices are hazardous gadgets that may cause a wide range of health issues.
Skin Rashes Induced by Heavy Metals in Electronic Devices
According to Gutierrez (n.p.), researchers from the University of California-San Diego conducted a case study establishing the link between portable electronic gadgets and an increase in the level of nickel allergies. At the center of the study was an eleven-year boy suffering from unremitting rash found to stem from his iPad. The senior editor of CNET, Dan Ackerman opined that all high-tech devices are made of aluminum, whether they be tablets, phones, or computers. Though advertised as composed of stainless steel components, gadgets do contain nickel alloys. Six consecutive months of treatment would not produce any results until doctors conducted an allergy test. The frequent application of family iPad over a six-month period preceding medical tests turned out the main source of exposure to nickel elements.
After testing the first-generation iPad bought in 2010, the doctors found out that the external coating contained nickel with a chemical compound called dimethylglyoxime. The reduction of the intake of dietary nickel, wrapping the device with a protective film, and the avoidance of whatever products contained nickel all caused rash symptoms to moderate with time. The case study marks the first time an iPad has caused nickel-induced allergy although nickel allergies following extensive exposure to electronic gadgets, whether cell phones or laptops, is well documented as follows from the study published in Pediatrics. It remains to be studied whether all Apple or iPad mobile gadgets have the high content of nickel likely to produce allergies (Gutierrez, n.p.).
In any case, what clinicians need to do is keep considering metallic emerging electronics now that nickel allergy has become widespread in the pediatric population. Over the past decade, the number of children tested for allergy and found to have nickel allergies is 8% up on 2004 when it used not to rise above 17%. Although nickel-induced allergies are far from hazardous, their degree can fluctuate from mildly uncomfortable to highly painful. Developing such by children may necessitate steroid antibiotic treatment. As far as the aforementioned study is concerned, the boy had nothing else to do but miss classes, for his allergy was quite severe (Gutierrez, n.p.).
Clifford Bassett, a New York allergist, admitted that such allergy could be very uncomfortable to experience since it can entail accompanying itchiness, redness, swelling, and blisters. The problem is that people may be slow to realize the source of their discomfort comes from a device they use on a daily basis. As per doctors’ warning, the susceptibility of children to allergy producing chemical components is higher than that of adults for the reason that parents may not recognize the source of the problem and isolate children from it or minimize the impact by covering gadgets with protective cases. Some parents have a preference for cases made of silicon in order that nothing metal will come into contact with children’s mouth or hands (Gutierrez, n.p.).
Skin allergies are not the only unpleasant outcome caused by the prolonged contact with electronic devices made of hazardous substances or containing such in their component alloy. According to Health Impacts (n.p.), device consumers can be exposed to hazardous substances while using gadgets every day. To quote a few examples, users come into contact with toner dust by changing printer cartridges or with brominated flame retardant residues to be found in dust accumulating on computer surfaces. Electronic gadgets may contain potentially hazardous materials; however, their adverse effect depends on the frequency of exposure, dosage, the peculiarities of the chemical, and other aspects. Persistent bio-accumulative toxins tend to build up in the fatty tissues of the human organism rather than break down readily. These substances are thought to be disruptors of the endocrine system hampering the activity of hormones or imitating naturally occurring hormones, which has a negative impact on biological systems. Metabolism, neurological and reproductive systems are among those affected by chemical substances found in electronic devices (Health Impacts n.p.).
Health Impacts (n.p.) suggests that electronic gadgets can contain suspected or known carcinogens, such as aluminum, arsenic, americium, barium, chromium, cadmium, mercury, and selenium among other things. While zinc is normally nontoxic, it acquires this property in large concentrations. The same hold true for copper. Older electronic devices can contain such potentially dangerous element as polychlorinated biphenyls. The process of incineration during recycling can produce the release of dioxins (Health Impacts n.p.). Since the mentioned substances are carcinogens, they can lead to the development of cancer. However, their concentration in any given device as well as the time of exposure can determine whether the portion of radiation received can produce adverse health results.
Health-related Reasons Children under Twelve Need to Stay away from Electronic Devices
The Canadian Society of Pediatrics State (n.p.) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (n.p.) conducted studies on the hazard-free use of electronics by children of different ages in 2010 and 2013. They recommended that infants aged 0 and 2 not be exposed to electronic technologies, children between ages 3 and 5 use devices for a period limited to one hour a day, and children aged between 6 and 18 not use gadgets longer than two hours a day (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Kaiser Foundation (n.p.) and Active Healthy Kids Canada (n.p.) suggest that children and young people appear to exceed the normal use of technology by four to five times, which is fraught with serious if not life-threatening repercussions (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). The reasons for medical recommendations are ten major health risks associated with extensive exposure.
Christakis (n.p.) noted that children ages 0 and 2 have their brains increase threefold, without ceasing their growth until people are 21 years of age (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Environmental stimuli or the absence thereof is what determines the early development of human brain. According to Small (n.p.) and Pagini (n.p.), if stimulated by the overexposures to electronic technologies like the internet, cell phones, television, and IPads, a developing brain can be prone to attention and executive functioning deficits, impaired learning, cognitive delays, enhanced impulsivity, and the diminished ability of self-regulation in the shape of tantrums (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). All of these show electronic devices hamper the healthy development of the human brain and cause emotional disturbance and cognitive issues directly related to mental processes associated with learning, which means there may mental health impairment. HELP EDI Maps (n.p.) suggest that technologies may be at the root of delayed development and subsequent academic achievement and literacy issues, with technology restricting movement (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). The restriction of movement is dangerous since sedentary lifestyle caused by electronic devices keeps the development of child organism and its musculoskeletal component from running its natural course as observed in children engaged in physical activities.
Tremblay (n.p.) admits that there is a correlation between video games and television (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Feng (n.p.) notes that the risk of obesity for children permitted to use electronic devices in their bedrooms increases by 30%, as compared with their peers who are not (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Tremblay (n.p.) suggests that every third American child and every fourth Canadian child are diagnosed with obesity induced by electronics (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.p.) notes that 30% of children with obesity are sure to develop diabetes, to say nothing of the risk for heart attacks and early strokes, both reducing life duration (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). According to Professor Andrew Prentice (n.p.), if the generation of children born in the 21st century will be the first not to outlive their parents, it is because obesity impairs their health (qtd. in Rowan n.p.).
Boston college (n.p.) claims that 75% of children ages 9 and 10 are deprived of sleep to such a degree that their academic performance suffers as a result (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Besides sleep deterioration, devices can cause a wide range of mental issues. Bristol University (n.p.), Mentzoni (n.p.), Shin (n.p.), Liberatore (n.p.), Robison (n.p.) suggest that the overuse of the electronic technology is credited with child depression, attention deficit, attachment disorder, anxiety, autism, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and problematic child conduct (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Waddell (n.p.) notes that every sixth Canadian child presumably overexposed to electronics suffers from mental diseases being on serious psychotropic medications (qtd. in Rowan n.p.).
Since children are at risk of developing aggression in the aftermath of exposure to violent content in media, the USA, according to Huesmann (n.p.) has classified media violence as a Public Health Risk (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Christakis (n.p.) and Small (n.p.) note that the high speed content of media can lead to digital dementia since it causes attention deficits and reduced memory and concentration abilities owing to brain pruning neuronal tracks to the frontal cortex (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Worse, children overexposed to the digital technology have the potential of developing addiction, the impairment of psychological health. Gentile (n.p.) claims that every eleventh child grows addicted to the technology (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). However, one of the worst health dangers is the emission of radiation. WHO (n.p.) notes that the World Health Organization categorized wireless electronic gadgets like cell phones as a category 2B risk devices due to them emitting carcinogens responsible for cancer development (qtd. in Rowan n.p.). Globe and Mail (n.p.) published in 2011 a cautionary warning made by James McNamee from Health Canada, in which he admits that children are more prone to a range of agents than adults are since their immune systems and brains are at the stage of development (qtd. in Rowan n.p.).
The Impact of Smartphones on Sleep and Other Health Aspects
Loria (n.p.) states that smartphones’ aggravating human sleep cycles is not the only health-related concern people should consider before buying a gadget. Serious mental and physical health problems are attributable to the blue light, which is a part of the full light spectrum, produced by personal electronic gadgets like laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other LED devices. Exposure to the high rates of such light in the nighttime is believed to damage people’s vision. Beyond that, it blocks the production of the hormone melatonin tasked with throwing off the natural sleep cues of the human body. With sleep cycle and melatonin rates going wrong, the likelihood of developing diseases from depression to cancer rises significantly (Loria, n.p.).
Loria (n.p.) claims that blue light at night does significant damage to human eyes. Direct exposure to blue light can produce detriment to the retina, which may result in macular degeneration and subsequent loss of central vision, which is the ability of seeing whatever lies in front, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. While the relationship between blue light and cataracts remains largely unstudied, the correlation is worth considering. An eye doctors has happened to study a patient aged 35, whose eyes were as cloudy as those of individuals aged 75 were. It stands to reason that there is no way a single account can establish the link cataracts and exposure to blue light emitted by LED devices. Such light can ruin sleep in the nighttime since it subverts the production of melatonin by a human brain, which is a hormone responsible for sleep cycle regulation. Such interference is hardly a problem in the morning, yet it does disrupt hormone production when people are ready for sleep.
Hence, smartphones ruin human sleep, which is fraught with health ramifications from obesity to memory issues and genetic disruption. When the application of LED screens in the night urges human brains that it is morning and that there is no need to generate melatonin, human bodies experience the highly negative outcomes of the deception. Blue light and the disturbance of sleep can increase the risk of prostate and breast cancer. Apart from performing the sleep function, melatonin acts as antioxidant. The so-called uninterrupted darkness is said to protect against cancer. Blue light emanating from electronic gadgets can affect mental health as well. The suppression of melatonin rates and ill-timed body clock launching make people exposed to depression (Loria, n.p.).
Other Health Problems Caused by Electronic Devices
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (n.p.) cites a study on the impact of smartphones and portable electronic gadgets on the health of Hong Kong residents conducted by the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Out of 1.049 of interviewees, 30% of children and 70% of adults reported musculoskeletal symptoms experienced in various body parts following the use of electronic gadgets. The first stage of the survey in the timeframe between 2011 and 2012 involved 465 adults aged 18 and 50. About 90% of respondents were regular smartphone users, 61% preferred laptop computers, and the last segment composed of 35% of interviewees was composed of tablet computer users. As for health problems, 70% of electronic gadget users complained of neck pain, 65% suffered from shoulder pain, and 46% had finger and wrist pain. All survey participants utilized more than one device for extensive periods of the day. The likelihood of musculoskeletal symptoms in various body parts increased due to the lack of physical exercises and long static postures. The second survey stage involving children indicates similar health problems experienced by electronic device users (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, n.p.). Sedentary lifestyles and the lack of movement can also lead to muscle atrophy.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (n.p.) suggests that students who have obsession with electronic games are likely to experience negative health effects in the long term. Getting used to poor postures like poking-chin or forward head posture, rounded shoulder, and kyphotic back, all of these can become fixed body positions that will be difficult to correct in adulthood. To avoid poor postural habits, parents need to get children to maintain a cardiovascular fitness in the course of growth periods and do regular exercise, which will help the healthy development of joints and bones. Scientific observations suggest that undue texting can lead to the inflammation of tendons as well as articular degeneration in index fingers and the thumb joint. The problem is that the newest tablet computers and smartphones cause the thumb or index finger to execute the touch function. Contrary to the light nature of repetitive physical actions, their frequency is of long duration, which can result in strains in tendons and finger joints. Such experts on pathological conditions and the structure of human body system as psychotherapists can consult on correct seating postures and pain preventive stretching techniques (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University n.p.).
Overall, despite their usefulness, the overuse of electronic devices can be pregnant with serious health issues. One of scientific observations has established the link between the overexposure to an iPad and skin rashes developed by a boy using the gadget a lot over half a year. The results of allergy tests indicated the device contained a large concentration of nickel causing skin rash. Itchiness, redness, swelling, and blisters can often accompany allergy increasing general discomfort experienced by whoever is exposed to e-devices. Allergy is not the sole outcome of contact with hazardous chemical elements, of which devices are composed. Gadget users can contact with toner dust by changing printer cartridges or brominated flame retardant residues found in dust accumulating on computer surfaces. Of course, the mere presence of such substances is not necessarily the causal factor of health impairment.
Exposure frequency, dosage, and the peculiarities of the chemical in the content of device assembly components can affect a human organism to a varying extent. Persistent bio-accumulative toxins do not break down easily. Rather, they accumulate in the fatty tissues of the human organism making health consequences felt with time. They disrupt the endocrine system obstructing the activity of hormones or imitating naturally occurring hormones. Biological systems suffer in the process, with metabolism, neurological and reproductive systems affected by toxins. Carcinogens like aluminum, arsenic, barium, chromium, cadmium, and mercury have the potential of causing cancer. Copper and zinc are normally nontoxic, yet when in large concentrations they can be about as hazardous as the above-mentioned chemical substances are.
Who need to stay away from electronic devices most are children. If not, they should minimize the time of exposure. The period of use for children aged 3 and 5 can last no longer than one hour a day while children between the ages of 6 and 18 need to limit their exposure to several hours per day so that health issues may not surface. As has been proved, the overuse of devices disrupts the normal development of child brains causing attention deficit, self-regulation issues, cognitive delays, and impaired learning among other things. The development of brain appears determined by wrong environmental stimuli. The overexposure to the technology takes place in the period when child brain increases threefold and continues to grow further. Apart from mental health impairment observed largely through cognitive dysfunctions, children overusing gadgets, especially the ones allowed to do so in their bedrooms, can grow obese, which is fraught with diabetes, heart attacks, and early strokes.
If the tendency continues uninterrupted, the generation of Americans born in the 21st century risks failing to outlive their parents, which will cause such demographic problem as the aging of the nation. Device exposure can deprive children of sleep, which affects their academic performance. Extensive exposure may be the reason they develop mental diseases like bipolar and attachment disorder, attention deficit, depression, autism, anxiety, and psychosis among other issues. Children overusing electronic devices can be prone to digital dementia, which targets memory and concentration. When overexposed, the younger generation can grow addicted to the technology, which is a psychological health problem. Still, one of the worst-case scenarios is radiation emission. Unlike adults, children are more susceptible to radiation since their immune system and brains are still developing.
Exposure to the blue light emitted by the LED screens of devices like tablets, smartphones, and laptops can produce serious mental and physical health problems affecting people’s vision. The light emanating from devices suppresses melatonin, a hormone responsible for sleep. The disruption of sleep cycles and the reduction in hormone rates can result in a wide range of diseases from depression to cancer, whether prostate or breast. The suppression of the hormone and the lack of proper sleep can eventually lead to memory issues, genetic disruption, and obesity. Direct exposure to the light may damage the retina that leads to macular degeneration causing central vision loss. Finally, light exposure may be at the root of mental health issues like depression induced by melatonin reduction and body clock launching. It is important to remember musculoskeletal problems, muscle atrophy, and wrong postural habit development all caused by overexposure. Thus, regardless of their usefulness, electronic devices have been proved to cause a wide variety of health problems, which means a reduction in device use is a sensible piece of advice that requires following by both children and adults if they are to stay healthy and live a long, ailment-free life.
Works Cited
Gutierrez, David. “Heavy Metals in Electronic Devices Causing Wave of Skin Rashes.” Natural News. 18 July 2014. n.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
“Health Impacts.” Sustainable Electronics Initiative. n.d. n.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
Loria, Kevin. “Smartphones Ruin More than Your Sleep – They May also Be Destroying Your Vision.” Business Insider. 9 September 2014. n.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
Rowan, Cris. “10 Reasons why Handled Devices Should be Banned for Children under the age of 12.” Huff Post. 10 January 2014. n.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “Health Effects of Using Portable Electronic Devices Studied.” Science Daily. 5 September 2013. n.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
