An independent UK Advisory Group has reviewed the evidence for health effects from radiofrequency transmissions, especially that published since the Stewart Report on Mobile Phones and Health in 2000. The report says that the biological and epidemiological evidence does not suggest cancer causation, in particular from mobile phone use, nor any other adverse health effect from radio frequency exposures at levels below guidelines.
However, there are limitations to the research carried out so far, and mobile phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively short time. The Advisory Group concludes that there is still a possibility that there could be health effects from exposure to radiofrequency transmissions below guideline levels, and continued research is needed.
The independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR: Chairman, Professor Anthony Swerdlow) has examined recent experimental and epidemiological evidence for health effects due to exposure to radiofrequency (RF) transmissions, including those associated with mobile telephone handsets and base stations. There are many sources of RF exposure, including the signals from radio and TV transmitters, but the current focus of public concern tends to be on mobile phones and mobile phone base stations.
AGNIR has concluded that there is no biological evidence for mutation or tumour causation by RF exposure, and epidemiological studies overall do not support causal associations between exposures to RF and the risk of cancer, in particular from mobile phone use.
A number of studies have suggested possible effects on brain function at RF exposure levels comparable with those from mobile phone handset usage, but AGNIR regard the overall evidence as inconclusive. Other studies have indicated effects of pulse modulated RF on the movement of calcium ions in cells and tissues of the nervous system. However, AGNIR found that the early results are not supported by recent, better conducted studies.
Regarding exposures in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations, AGNIR has examined data from a number of surveys and concluded that exposure levels are extremely low and the evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a health risk.
Nevertheless, AGNIR points out the limitations of published research and concludes that "In aggregate the research published since the IEGMP report does not give cause for concern. The weight of evidence now available does not suggest that there are adverse health effects from exposures to RF fields below guideline levels, but the published research on RF exposures and health has limitations, and mobile phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively short time. The possibility therefore remains open that there could be health effects from exposure to RF fields below guideline levels; hence continued research is needed."
Posted to the site on 15th January 2004
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