'No hard evidence' of mobile damage

A report claims there is no convincing evidence that talking on a mobile phone can damage health
26 April 2012

No convincing evidence has been revealed that mobile phones damage human health in spite of an "explosion" in research into the issue over the past decade, according to a review of scientific studies billed as the most comprehensive yet.

Driving while using a mobile phone remains the one established health risk of mobile phones, a leading scientist said as a report on exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields emitted by devices such as mobile phones was published.

The review found that a large number of studies have been published on cancer risks in relation to mobile phone use but overall the results have not demonstrated that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours or any other type of cancer.

However, the report, from the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation (AGNIR), warned that it was "important" to continue to monitor all the evidence as there was little information on the risks beyond 15 years from first exposure.

This monitoring should include monitoring national brain tumour trends which have so far given "no indication" of any risk, the report recommended. The HPA said it would continue to advise a "precautionary" approach and keep the science under close review. The agency recommends that "excessive" use of mobile phones by children should be discouraged while adults should make their own choices as to whether they wish to reduce their own exposure.

Professor Anthony Swerdlow, chairman of the AGNIR and an epidemiologist at the Institute of Cancer Research, said the last similar large-scale review by the group had been carried out in 2003 but since then much more information had been made available.

He said there were still limitations to the published research that meant a "definitive judgment" could not be given but the evidence overall has not demonstrated any adverse effects on human health from exposure to radiofrequency fields below internationally accepted guideline levels.

Dr John Cooper, director of the HPA centre for radiation, chemical and environmental hazards, said: "The HPA's position on mobile phone technologies is in line with the AGNIR's findings. There is still no convincing scientific evidence that RF field exposures from mobile phones and other radio technologies affect human health at exposure levels below internationally agreed guidelines."

"However, as this is a relatively new technology, the HPA will continue to advise a precautionary approach and keep the science under close review. The HPA recommends that excessive use of mobile phones by children should be discouraged and mobile phone-specific energy absorption rates values should be clearly marked in the phone sales literature."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "There is no current evidence to suggest a health risk for adults or children from mobile phones. The independent advisory group keeps all evidence under review and continues to recommend that excessive use should be discouraged."

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