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Mobile Phone
Health Issues
Maintaining the highest standards of health
and safety for GSM technology is a global issue.
The GSM Association has initiated a program
to promote communications with national
governments and the World Health Organization as
guardians of public health; technical standard
setting bodies as assessors of scientific
knowledge and the public as consumers of
innovative mobile communications.
- I've read that mobile phones can cause
cancer. Is this true?
- What about other health risks?
- How can we be sure that this research is
accurate?
- I live close to a base station. Am I at
risk?
- My friend wears a hearing aid - can he use
a mobile phone?
- Will my pacemaker be affected by the
signal from a mobile phone?
- My car has an on-board computer. If I make
calls whilst driving, will my phone disrupt
the computer?
- Why can't I use my mobile phone when I
fly?
- Why are there so many restrictions on
using mobile phones in hospitals?
- What about mobile phone use while driving?
- I've heard reports of mobile phones
causing explosions at petrol stations, is this
true?
- What are the safety standards that apply
to mobile phones and base stations?
I've read that mobile phones can cause
cancer. Is this true?
There is no convincing scientific evidence that
the use of mobile phones can cause brain tumours
or other cancers in humans. It is the consensus
of the world wide scientific community that the
low powered radio signals produced by a mobile
phone do not have sufficient intrinsic energy to
affect genetic material.
What about other health risks?
Independent scientific institutions around the
world review relevant research as it is
published. The consensus of these expert groups
is that there is no demonstrable evidence of a
risk to human health from mobile phone use. The
GSM Association however, continues to support
international quality research into this
question.
How can we be sure that this research is
accurate?
Sophisticated and sensitive research methods
using well-tried models for assessing health
risks from other agents have been applied to
investigate the safety of mobile phones. Many
research institutions and the safety standards
and guidelines according to which such research
is conducted, are controlled by government and
independent bodies around the world. Research
results are continually reviewed at an
international level by organisations such as the
International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
I live close to a base station. Am I at risk?
Where members of the public have access to the
area around a base station the radio signal
levels are typically much lower than even the
most stringent internationally adopted safety
guidelines. It is only in areas close to the
antennas that the recommended limits may be
exceeded. The network operator will take steps
to prevent public access to these areas by
placing the antennas near the top of the mast or
high on a building. GSM base stations operate
with low radio signal powers to reduce
interference to nearby sites that could affect
call quality. For the typical GSM base station
that is mounted on a building or a pole the
typical maximum signal strength in publicly
accessible areas will be less than 1% of most
national RF exposure standards. In many cases,
the GSM signal strength will be comparable to
existing broadcast radio and TV services.
My friend wears a hearing aid - can he use
a mobile phone?
Most new models of hearing aids are immune to
radio frequency interference from GSM phones
that are more than 2 metres away. Some are also
immune to interference when the phone is brought
up to the same ear as the hearing aid. The
result depends on the level of immunity designed
into the hearing aid, the nature of the hearing
loss and the type of mobile phone. Unfortunately
many types of older hearing aids may be
susceptible to interference making it very
difficult to use a mobile phone. Should
interference be experienced, there are several
things that can be done which may improve the
situation:
- If possible use the mobile phone at the
non aided ear;
- Use a different, more immune hearing aid;
- Use a hands free accessory. Different
accessories can be coupled to the hearing aid
by either using the Microphone or T-Coil
position.
- Vibrating batteries are also available.
The GSM Association has produced further
information in conjunction with the European
Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA)
to answer questions in more detail regarding
this issue.
Will my pacemaker be affected by the signal
from a mobile phone?
Brands and models of cardiac pacemakers exhibit
a wide range of immunity levels to GSM and other
types of radio signals. Therefore, people who
wear cardiac pacemakers and who want to use a
GSM phone should seek the advice of their
cardiologist. If, as a pacemaker user, you are
still concerned about interaction with mobile
phones, it has been suggested by national health
authorities that you:
- maintain a 15 cm (6 inch) separation
between the phone and your pacemaker;
- do not hold your phone to your chest,
e.g., don't carry the phone in a breast
pocket;
- refer to your pacemaker product literature
for information on your particular device; and
- refer to your phone product literature for
the technical parameters of your phone.
My car has an on-board computer. If I make
calls whilst driving, will my phone disrupt the
computer?
Tests conducted by vehicle manufacturers show no
interference effects on airbags, automatic
braking or cruise control systems during normal
phone use, despite some media reports to the
contrary. It is possible that a mobile phone
could cause an interference with vehicle audio
and remote locking systems, but only if held
close to the devices. You should remember that
care needs to be taken - and in some countries
it is against the law - to use a hand-held
mobile whilst driving a vehicle. A
professionally installed hands-free kit is
recommended. It is also recommended that you
pull over if the call is likely to be long,
stressful or complex. Safe driving should be the
highest priority.
Why can't I use my mobile phone when I fly?
It is standard practice on aircraft to turn off
all types of radio transmitters and certain
other electrical devices such as CD players
during flight. When airborne, the radio signals
from mobile phones can travel for hundreds of
kilometers and this could interfere with the
operation of ground based phones. It is
therefore highly recommended that you obey the
airline's instructions to switch off your mobile
phone.
Why are there so many restrictions on using
mobile phones in hospitals?
At short range, the radio signal from a mobile
phone may cause interference with electronic
medical devices. At distances greater than 2m
the possibility is substantially reduced. It is
possible for mobile phones to be used in
designated areas of hospitals, however, you
should obey any warning signs and the
instructions of hospital staff. If you use
electrical medical equipment in your home, we
recommend that you seek the advice of your
doctor or equipment supplier.
What about mobile phone use while driving?
Driving safely is of paramount importance to
everyone on today's busy roads, and mobile
phones should be used responsibly while on the
move. The industry has developed a wide range of
equipment and features to help you do this and
the use of a professionally installed car-kit is
recommended. (Note: it is an offence in many
countries to hold a mobile phone to the head
while driving.) However, the GSM Association
advises that it may be sensible to pull over
during difficult traffic conditions or when
calls are likely to be long, complex or
emotional. The GSM Association advises drivers
at all times to obey the national laws of the
country in which they are travelling.
I've heard reports of mobile phones causing
explosions at petrol stations, is this true?
As far as the GSM Association is aware none of
the media stories has ever been traced to a real
event, however, speculation has been encouraged
by the notices produced by petroleum companies.
Mobile phone user guides also frequently advise
that phones should be switched off in the
vicinity of petrol forecourts. This is not due
to the radio signals transmitted by the phone
but because of the theoretical risk that if a
handheld phone is dropped and the battery
separates from the phone it may cause a spark
across the contacts. This is also true of other
battery-powered devices such as torches,
walkman, CD players, etc. There may be more
tangible hazards associated with the distraction
of using a mobile phone while operating a petrol
pump. Therefore, the GSM Association position is
that mobile phone users should respect the
prohibitions of the fuel companies, and follow
any relevant advice given in their mobile phone
user guides.
What are the safety standards that apply to
mobile phones and base stations?
There are a number of national and international
standards bodies that have developed safety
standards that apply to mobile phones and base
stations. These committees are usually composed
of persons with expertise in key areas and
representatives of major stakeholder groups. For
specific information you should contact the
telecommunications regulator in your country.
The majority of Western standards are quite
similar in their basic approach to limit
setting, in that by reviewing available research
they determine the threshold dose for an
established biological hazard and then
incorporate safety factors to define the
allowable level. The safety factors are intended
to account for uncertainty in establishing the
threshold level.
The radio safety standards applied in some
former east European countries take a different
approach to setting of allowable levels and in
many cases appear substantially more
conservative than western standards. However,
the rationale for such standards is less well
documented and with the political changes in
Eastern Europe some of these countries have
adopted Western guidelines.
Under the umbrella of the World Health
Organization (WHO) International EMF Project
efforts are being made to achieve standards
harmonisation between east European and Western
standards.
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