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mobiles & health

Many reviews have concluded that there is no convincing evidence to date that mobile phones are harmful to health. However, the widespread use of mobile phones is a relatively recent phenomenon and it is possible that adverse health effects could emerge after years of prolonged use. Evidence to date suggests that short term (less than ten years) exposure to mobile phone emissions is not associated with an increase in brain and nervous system cancers. However, regarding longer term use, the evidence base necessary to allow us to make firm judgments has not yet been accumulated. There are still significant uncertainties that can only be resolved by monitoring the health of a large cohort of phone users over a long period of time.


Key reviews of research to date

A major report on mobile phones and health was published by the UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones in 2000, known as the ‘Stewart report’ (1).  This report was updated by a further review of mobile phones and health undertaken by the Advisory Group on Non-Ionizing Radiation (AGNIR) (2) and published by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in 2005. Most recently, the independent Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme (MTHR), established in 2001 following the ‘Stewart Report’, published a report (3) describing research undertaken as part of its programme.

None of the research supported by the MTHR programme and published so far demonstrates that biological or adverse health effects are produced by radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones. The report also summarizes the current evidence base regarding mobile phones and health and identifies priorities for future research.

You can also learn more about mobile phones, mobile phone base stations, and health protection policy in the UK from the following websites:

Health Protection Agency

World Health Organization

MTHR

BIS

Planning Portal

Directgov

US National Cancer Institute


References

  1. Mobile Phones and Health.
    The Stewart report, UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, 2000.
  2. Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.
    National Radiology Protection Board, Volume 14, No. 2, 2003.
  3. Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme: report 2007. Health Protection Agency, 2007.