Get your wife off the phone: cell phone use in pregnant moms could harm unborn children

Results of a lengthy study of children and their mothers suggest that perhaps soon-to-be dads should be mindful of how much their wife uses their cell phone – and not just because they're calling their ex-boyfriends. Researchers found that pregnant women who regularly use the mobile device are more likely to have kids with behavioral problems, Science Daily Reports.

The findings were recently published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, and focused on 28,000 7-year-olds and their mothers. The women were asked to chart certain aspects of their lifestyles, and when their children were 7, assessed their health – including behavior.

In the end, scientists discovered that children who were exposed to cell phones before birth were 50 percent more likely to be in a group with behavioral issues.

"Although it is premature to interpret these results as causal, we are concerned that early exposure to cell phones could carry a risk, which, if real, would be of public health concern given the widespread use of this technology," the authors wrote.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 5.4 million children between 4 and 17 were diagnosed with ADD or ADHD in 2007.