ARE MOBILE PHONES INJURIOUS TO HUMAN HEALTH?

T-Mobile (UK) Ltd., the Telecommunications Company,intends to apply to Three Rivers District Council for planning permission to erect a telecommunications mast in the Rickmansworth area. The preferred site is on Berry Lane, a residential area in close proximity to Arnett Hills School. Marconi, the provider of the mast is consulting local residents on the proposal and the Watford Observer has published an article to alert a wider audience to the proposal. Earlier planning applications to erect telecommunications masts in the Rickmansworth area have been met by vehement opposition from the public because the public is concerned about the potential health risks from Radio Frequency (RF) radiation. This article has been prepared to provide information relevant to the debate that will ensue before the Council has to take a decision on the matter. Readers should be aware that similar masts have been erected in Croxley Green.

The use of mobile phones has escalated over the last decade, and will continue to escalate with such developments as 3G technology, embracing fax, e-mail and Internet access. More than 50% of the population currently own a mobile phone, which is seen as an essential item by business, commerce and society. It is a fact that emissions of radio frequency (RF) radiation have the potential to affect the health of those people who may be sensitive to it, but to what degree, or with what consequences, is still the subject of much research. It is understood that, at present, the consequences are not yet life threatening in the short term.

Radiation is emitted by the phone and by the base stations that transmit and receive the telephone signals. The levels of exposure arising from a phone held near the head, or other parts of the body, are substantially greater than the whole body exposure arising from the base stations, such as the mast that Marconi wishes to erect in Berry Lane. Thus the threat to the health of phone users is greater than the threat to those who do not use a phone. What is clear is that walking past a mast or base station will not have an immediate impact on health. Furthermore, exposure generally reduces with increasing distance from the source, and risks to health occur as a result of the cumulative exposure to RF and other forms of radiation emitted into the atmosphere. A fact that may be overlooked by the public is that other RF emitting sources, such as antennas for radio, television and paging sets also emit radiation. Evan more intense radiation is emitted by radars such as those in use at airports like Heathrow and RAF Northolt.

Telecommunications base stations communicate with telephones within defined "cells". The accumulation of cells defines the telephone network. There are three types of cells, macro
cells, microcells and picocells. Macrocells communicate over a rage of some 22 miles and at present there are some 20,000 macrocells in the national network. The power consumption of these sets is of the order of 10 watts. Inevitably as the demand for telephones increases, so the network will have to be expanded. Measurements have been made which indicate that, currently, the population is exposed to an intensity of radiation from the network many hundreds, and even thousands of times lower than existing exposure guidelines permit. There are concerns nevertheless about whether the emissions from base stations are uniformly low from all stations, or whether with increased use of mobile phones the output of radiation will rise as more powerful base stations are used to transmit the messages, e-mails, faxes etc.

In spite of the large number of macrocell base stations, there are blind spots in telephone reception. Reception in these areas, and in areas where the volumes of calls is high, is improved by using microcells to infill the main network. The microcells use less power and their range is but a few hundred metres. It is understood that exposure levels will not exceed the limits laid down in the guidelines, providing the casing / screening surrounding the antenna is retained in place. However, there is a possibility of over exposure if the screening is removed.

Picocell base stations are usually sited in buildings and have an even lower output than the other two. However, in future it is likely that the number of picocells will increase substantially with an increase in the demand for mobile phones. The emissions from individual equipments will not exceed the guidelines, but in time it is again likely that system audits will be put in place at this level to check on the output from picocell antenna. When in place it is assumed that these audits will provide the means to measure the intensity of radiation from all base stations in the area.

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) established the British Government's guidelines on exposure to radiation in 1993. These guidelines provide information on the maximum permissible levels of exposure to radiation emitted by mobile telephones, base stations and other sources of RF radiation. An international body has produced similar guidelines for workers in the telecommunications industry. The exposure levels for the workers are currently five times greater than those permitted for the public. These guidelines have been incorporated into European Council recommendations. Presumably the guidelines for workers take into account that the exposure of workers to radiation, and therefore the risks to their health, can be monitored in the same way as workers in the nuclear industry are monitored. However, at this time there has been no suggestion that the public may be issued with "total dose" radiation badges.

The Government commissioned the Stewart Group to study the implications of mobile telephones on the health of the nation. It welcomed the Report and the recommendations to reduce public concern about mobile phone technologies. It acknowledges that the report provides information that the public can use to make informed choices about their own and their children's use of the technologies. Attention is drawn to Sir William Stewart's comments in the forward to the report in which he states:
"The balance of evidence does not suggest that mobile phone technologies put the health of the general population at risk. There is some preliminary evidence that outputs from mobile phones may cause, in some cases, subtle biological effects, although, importantly, these do not necessarily mean that health is affected".
Sir William proposes that a precautionary approach be adopted until more robust scientific information becomes available. The Report does highlight the major issues that the public should address. These are:

"The use of mobile phones in cars can increase the chance of accidents and drivers must be dissuaded from using mobile phones on the move".
"The widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged. If there are, currently, unrecognised adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones, children may be more vulnerable because of their developing nervous systems, the greater absorption of energy in the tissues of the head and a longer lifetime of exposure".
"The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be smaller fractions of the guidelines. However there can be indirect adverse effects on their well being in some cases".
The report did make a number of recommendations. At the time of writing this document it was not possible to determine if the Government had implemented the recommendations that follow:
"Clearly defined exclusion zones should be established around base stations to delineate areas where the intensity of radiation may exceed guidelines. People should not enter exclusion zones while the station is transmitting".
"Shielding devices and hands-free kits should be tested and information provided on the effectiveness of such devices".

"The siting of base stations should be subject to the normal planning processes and protocols should be developed to inform the planning process. Where base stations are erected in school grounds or on school buildings, the beam of greatest intensity should not fall on any part of the school grounds or buildings. Developers may appeal to the Secretary of State if planning approval is withheld".
Finally, the Government has implemented one recommendation made by the Stewart Group. It has established a register of RF sites throughout the country. Anyone wishing to know how many sites exist in his or her local area should look at the register. A link to the website is given below.Click on the link and insert a post code where indicated, and the sites within the postal area will be revealed.
Register of RF Sites
Further information can be obtained from the following sites:
National Radiological Protection Board
Mobile Operators Association (MOA)

The views expressed on this website are those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the R&DRA Committee as a whole.