Mobile phone masts not injurious to health, finds new study

A new study has rejected an earlier contention that transmissions from mobile phone masts could cause immediate health problems.

Researchers at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom studied 44 people who were 'sensitive' to mobile technology, along with a control group of 114 people in good health.

The participants went through periods of exposure to 2G radiation, 3G radiation, and no radiation.

Performed as a double-blind study, which means that the both participants and researchers were not aware about which level of radiation was being used, only two of the 44 noticed a difference. Five of the members of the control group were able to tell when the radiation was on.

Previous research had suggested that these radio frequency (RF) waves could cause symptoms like headaches, increased tension, or even anxiety
attacks. The study at the University of Essex found no such effects in its group of over 150 people.

However, the study only focused on short-term exposure and short-term effects of the electronic exposure. It is still unclear about the effects of mobile phone emissions on people who are exposed over several months or years.

Funding for the study totaling around £7 million came from the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) program, which is jointly
funded by industry and government.

The trial results come three months after a controversial BBC Panorama program, which alleged that microwave radiation from wireless LANs in schools could affect children's health.

However, campaigners and individuals who claim that sources of electrical fields, including mobile phone masts, can cause a syndrome called electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EH), rejected the findings.

They argue that there were serious flaws in the research – such as many of those who took part in the study and who reported symptoms being excluded from the study, and participants only being exposed for short periods.

Some researchers believe that 4% of the population suffers from EH, the symptoms of which are fatigue, headaches, burning sensations, and skin problems resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Some other scientists say there is no evidence to prove the existence of EH. Prof Lawrie Challis, chairman of the Government's Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research committee, said: "This large and carefully designed study provides further evidence that signals from mobile phone masts do not produce harmful effects, at least in the short term."

Alastair Philips, of consumer lobby group Powerwatch, disagrees, saying, "I don't think this research tells us very much, other than that 50 minutes of exposure is inadequate for studying these effects. There are a number of methodology problems. Not having the most sensitive people in the study weakens it greatly."

The research team is now planning to carry out a similar study on terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA), the new emergency services radio system.