Re: The Wireless Risk

Confusion over mobile safety

Children may be advised to cut phone use Scientists and consumer groups are calling for more research to be done into the health effects of mobile phone use as a major government report reveals children may be at risk.

The 10-month Stewart Inquiry report - to be published on Thursday - says the balance of evidence suggests radiation emissions from mobiles are not
dangerous to the general public

But it recommends children be discouraged from using them, until more is known about the potential health risks because their developing brains may
be more vulnerable to such emissions.

The mobile phone industry is remaining tight-lipped ahead of the official publication of the report, but experts and "confused" consumers are demanding further tests be carried out to resolve health fears.

Both the government and the industry will respond to the report on Thursday and while the industry will not be happy with all the findings, it is
expected to welcome its broad message.

Consumers 'confused'

Dr Alan Preece, from Bristol University, who found mobile emissions altered people's reaction times, said it was unclear whether these effects could be
harmful.

He said: "I just can't believe the explosion [in mobile use] in the last five years even. I think we do need to research it just to reassure the public, if nothing else, that there are no prolonged harmful effects. We
just don't know at this stage."

Recent research by the Consumers' Association suggested hands-free headsets, marketed as a radiation safety precaution, might in some cases actualy increase the amount of radiation penetrating a user's brain.

The Association's Antonia Chitty said: "The jury is still out on whether mobile phones are safe or not, but we would definitely like more research to be done. At the moment I think consumers are still very confused."

The report follows the recent auction of frequencies for the next generation of mobile phones which has netted the government �22.5bn.

Health guidelines

Panel members on the Stewart Inquiry were reported to have been angered by early leaks to the media which suggested their report had given mobile
phones a "clean bill of health".

Among the actions they are recommending are:

Children should only use phones for essential calls.

Planning regulations for mobile phone masts and base stations which transmit and receive the signals around the country should be tighter.

Leaflets should be delivered to every home, explaining the technology and the potential risks.

The far-reaching inquiry headed by Sir William Stewart of Tayside University took evidence from experts across the country and its panel included experts in physics, telecommunications, engineering, and neuroscience, since being set up in March 1999.

It was commissioned in response to fears that mobile use could be linked to memory loss, and even Alzheimer's disease.

Sir Liam Donaldson will be asked to work with panel chairman Sir William Stewart to draw up new precautionary health guidelines on mobiles.

This could involve advice on how how often and how long young people could use a mobile - and even recommend a minimum age.

Almost half a billion people worldwide use mobile phones.

In Britain the youth market represents an estimated one quarter of all cellphone sales. Within the next eight years the phone companies expect
almost everyone in the UK will own a mobile phone.

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