Happy Cancer Beck & Bondi Families! Lobby-oriented NRPB
Verfasst: 13. Januar 2005 12:20
THE TIMES (on line), UK
January 12, 2005
No child's toy: warnings from the National Radiological Protection Board
suggest that children are at greater risk of harm when using their mobile
phones (RICHARD POHLE)
Mobile phones tumour risk to young children. By Sam Coates, Nigel Hawkes and
Alexandra Blair
CHILDREN under the age of eight should not use mobile phones, parents were
advised last night after an authoritative report linked heavy use to ear and
brain tumours and concluded that the risks had been underestimated by most
scientists.
Professor Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological
Protection Board (NRPB), said that evidence of potentially harmful effects
had become more persuasive over the past five years.
The news prompted calls for phones to carry health warnings and panic in
parts of the industry. One British manufacturer immediately suspended a
model aimed at four to eight-year-olds.
The number of mobiles in Britain has doubled to 50 million since the first
government-sponsored report in 2000. The number of children aged between
five and nine using mobiles has increased fivefold in the same period.
In his report, Mobile Phones and Health, Sir William said that four studies
have caused concern. One ten-year study in Sweden suggests that heavy mobile
users are more prone to non-malignant tumours in the ear and brain while a
Dutch study had suggested changes in cognitive function. A German study has
hinted at an increase in cancer around base stations, while a project
supported by the EU had shown
evidence of cell damage from fields typical of those of mobile phones.
³All of these studies have yet to be replicated and are of varying quality
but we can¹t dismiss them out of hand,² Sir William said. If there was a
health risk < which remained unproven < it would have a greater effect on
the young than on older people, he added.
For children aged between 8 and 14, parents had to make their own judgments
about the risks and benefits. ³I can¹t believe that for three to eight
year-olds they can be readily justified,² he said.
David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers,
called last night for a ban on mobiles in schools.
Mobile phone companies reacted furiously, saying that the report fanned
public concern without presenting new research. The youth market is highly
lucrative because teenagers are more likely to use video downloads and other
services.
The World Health Organisation is preparing to publish an international
report, drawing on hundreds of studies conducted over a decade, which many
hope will give a definitive judgment on mobile phone safety.
The board¹s report says that while there is a lack of hard information of
damage to health, the approach should be precautionary. Sir William said:
³Just because there are 50 million of them out there doesn¹t mean they are
absolutely safe.²
One school in the North East has begun using mobile scanners to prevent
pupils using mobiles in class. ³Outside college hours it is up to parents,
but in our care if mobiles are found on children, they are confiscated and
returned to the parents,² David Riden, vice principal of Tollbar Business
and Enterprise College in New Waltham, said.
One group that appears to target young users is Richard Branson¹s Virgin
Mobile, which derives much of its revenue from the 16s-35s market. It denies
targeting under 16s but has cornered a large slice of the youth market with
cheap voice and text messages.
HEALTH RISK
* Acoustic neuromas are benign tumours of the acoustic nerve
A study in Sweden has shown that they are twice as common in mobile
phone users
They were also four times as common on the side of the head where the
phone was held
Acoustic neuromas occur in 100,000 people a year and can cause deafness
They can be treated by surgery. In most cases the patient¹s hearing is
saved
* Brain tumours affect about 4,700 new patients a year in Britain
They are becoming more common. Society says that incidence has increased
by 45 per cent in 30 years
The causes of primary brain tumours are unknown, so it is hard to
identify specific risk factors
January 12, 2005
No child's toy: warnings from the National Radiological Protection Board
suggest that children are at greater risk of harm when using their mobile
phones (RICHARD POHLE)
Mobile phones tumour risk to young children. By Sam Coates, Nigel Hawkes and
Alexandra Blair
CHILDREN under the age of eight should not use mobile phones, parents were
advised last night after an authoritative report linked heavy use to ear and
brain tumours and concluded that the risks had been underestimated by most
scientists.
Professor Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological
Protection Board (NRPB), said that evidence of potentially harmful effects
had become more persuasive over the past five years.
The news prompted calls for phones to carry health warnings and panic in
parts of the industry. One British manufacturer immediately suspended a
model aimed at four to eight-year-olds.
The number of mobiles in Britain has doubled to 50 million since the first
government-sponsored report in 2000. The number of children aged between
five and nine using mobiles has increased fivefold in the same period.
In his report, Mobile Phones and Health, Sir William said that four studies
have caused concern. One ten-year study in Sweden suggests that heavy mobile
users are more prone to non-malignant tumours in the ear and brain while a
Dutch study had suggested changes in cognitive function. A German study has
hinted at an increase in cancer around base stations, while a project
supported by the EU had shown
evidence of cell damage from fields typical of those of mobile phones.
³All of these studies have yet to be replicated and are of varying quality
but we can¹t dismiss them out of hand,² Sir William said. If there was a
health risk < which remained unproven < it would have a greater effect on
the young than on older people, he added.
For children aged between 8 and 14, parents had to make their own judgments
about the risks and benefits. ³I can¹t believe that for three to eight
year-olds they can be readily justified,² he said.
David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers,
called last night for a ban on mobiles in schools.
Mobile phone companies reacted furiously, saying that the report fanned
public concern without presenting new research. The youth market is highly
lucrative because teenagers are more likely to use video downloads and other
services.
The World Health Organisation is preparing to publish an international
report, drawing on hundreds of studies conducted over a decade, which many
hope will give a definitive judgment on mobile phone safety.
The board¹s report says that while there is a lack of hard information of
damage to health, the approach should be precautionary. Sir William said:
³Just because there are 50 million of them out there doesn¹t mean they are
absolutely safe.²
One school in the North East has begun using mobile scanners to prevent
pupils using mobiles in class. ³Outside college hours it is up to parents,
but in our care if mobiles are found on children, they are confiscated and
returned to the parents,² David Riden, vice principal of Tollbar Business
and Enterprise College in New Waltham, said.
One group that appears to target young users is Richard Branson¹s Virgin
Mobile, which derives much of its revenue from the 16s-35s market. It denies
targeting under 16s but has cornered a large slice of the youth market with
cheap voice and text messages.
HEALTH RISK
* Acoustic neuromas are benign tumours of the acoustic nerve
A study in Sweden has shown that they are twice as common in mobile
phone users
They were also four times as common on the side of the head where the
phone was held
Acoustic neuromas occur in 100,000 people a year and can cause deafness
They can be treated by surgery. In most cases the patient¹s hearing is
saved
* Brain tumours affect about 4,700 new patients a year in Britain
They are becoming more common. Society says that incidence has increased
by 45 per cent in 30 years
The causes of primary brain tumours are unknown, so it is hard to
identify specific risk factors