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2 December 2005
Q: What are the
health risks associated with mobile phones and their base stations?
A: This is a question which WHO
takes very seriously. Given the immense number of people who use mobile
phones, even a small increase in the incidence of adverse effects on health
could have major public health implications.
Because
exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by mobile phones is
generally more than a 1000 times higher than from base stations, and the
greater likelihood of any adverse effect being due to handsets, research has
almost exclusively been conducted on possible effects of mobile phone
exposure.
Research
has concentrated on the following areas:
 Cancer
Traffic
accidents
Electromagnetic
interference
Other
health effects.
Cancer: Current scientific evidence
indicates that exposure to RF fields, such as those emitted by mobile phones
and their base stations, is unlikely to induce or promote cancers. Several
studies are under way to determine whether the results of some studies on
animals have any relevance to cancer in human beings. Recent epidemiological
studies have found no convincing evidence of an increased cancer risk or any
other disease with mobile phone use.
Traffic
accidents:
Research has clearly shown an increased risk of traffic accidents, some 3-4
times greater chance of an accident, when mobile phones (either handheld or
with a "hands-free" kit) are used while driving.
Electromagnetic
interference:
When mobile phones are used close to some medical devices (including
pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids) there is
the possibility of causing interference with their operation. There is also
the potential of interference between mobile phones signals and aircraft
electronics.
Other
health effects:
Scientists have reported other health effects of using mobile phones
including changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns.
These effects are minor and have no apparent health significance. More
studies are underway to try to confirm these findings.
Conclusions:
No recent national or international reviews have concluded that exposure to
the RF fields from mobile phones or their base stations causes any adverse
health consequence. However, areas have been identified by the WHO's EMF
Project for further research to better assess health risks and have led to
over US$ 250 million in research worldwide to study RF effects on health. It
will take about 2-3 years for the required RF research to be completed,
evaluated and to publish an updated WHO health risk assessment.
Related
Links
- Electromagnetic
fields and public health, WHO fact sheet No. 193
- Electromagnetic
fields (EMF)
- Electromagnetic
fields
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