Mobiles cancer warning steps up in US
Monday January 4, 2010
The mobiles industry in Australia in expecting the debate regarding any link between mobiles use and brain cancer to increase over the next few months after the US state of Maine has asked for all new mobile phones to come with health warnings, similar to those displayed on cigarette packaging.
Maine Legislator Andrea Boland has asked that despite scientific consensus that mobiles be sold and produced displaying warnings of the potential damaged that can be caused to the user's brain. This is a subject that has been hotly debated for several years since the rise in use of mobiles has skyrocketed over the last decade, with no clear evidence either way.
However, Ms Boland did cite a 2006 Swedish National Institute for Working Life study which claims to have found a link between high mobiles use and brain tumours, especially for users aged under 18 years old.
"The main thing is that the warning labels get on there, and when people go to purchase something they have a heads-up that they need to really think about it," Ms Boland said.
"This is a big important industry, and it's a small modification to assure people that they should handle them properly."
The Australian mobiles industry has predicted that the push for such warning labels will be echoed globally, including Australia with a population which has around 22 million mobile phones, with concern for the long term effects of using such technology already a hot issue.
Chief Executive of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), Chris Althaus, said in a statement recently that the safety of mobile phones is an issue that the industry takes very seriously.
"Mobile phone handsets and base stations are designed, built and tested to comply with strict science-based safety standards, which are recognized by national and international health agencies, including the WHO, as providing protection for all members of the community." Mr Althaus said in a statement.
"The standards include significant in-built safety margins and provide protection for all users, including the elderly, children and others regardless of the frequency of use.
"People can be confident that there is no biological, medical, or statistical basis to assert a link between mobile phone use and brain cancer."
The mobiles industry has based its assessments on independent judgements of expert bodies, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), for any safety issues with the World Health Organisation's Interphone study results still unpublished. Although in 2005 WHO released study results stating that there was no convincing evidence of a link between brain cancer and mobiles or mobile phone tower stations.
"The WHO has said there has been more research into radio frequency than for most chemicals." Mr Althaus said in a statement.
In fact, there have been comprehensive reviews of over 2500 research publications. This includes over 600 studies specifically on mobile phones, according to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association.
From a consumer perspective there are a number of steps that can be taken to limit the actual contact made between mobiles and the consumer which include:
- Using a hands-free kit
- Using loudspeaker wherever possible
- Use of text messages as opposed to regular calls
- Limits to the duration of calls
Share This