IEGMP

Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones

Report of the Group (The Stewart Report)

Report on Mobile Phones and Health

The Expert Group has conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and has consulted widely. It has concluded that:

The use of mobile phones and related technologies will continue to increase for the foreseeable future.
The balance of evidence to date does not suggest that emissions from mobile phones and base stations put the health of the UK population at risk.
There is now some preliminary scientific evidence that exposures to radiofrequency (RF) radiation may cause subtle effects on biological functions, including those of the brain. This does not necessarily mean that health is affected but it is not possible to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects.
The Expert Group has recommended that a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phone technologies be adopted until more detailed and scientifically robust information becomes available.
For base station emissions, exposures of the general population will be to the whole body but normally at levels of intensity many times less than those from handsets.
Some people's well-being may be adversely affected by the environmental impact of mobile phone base stations sited next to houses, schools or other buildings, as well as by fear of perceived direct effects.
For all base stations, including those with masts under 15 m, permitted development rights should be revoked and the siting of all new base stations should be subject to the normal planning process.
The use of mobile phones whilst driving can have a detrimental effect on the quality of driving. Drivers should be discouraged from using mobile phones whilst on the move.
The widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged.

This report by the Expert Group on possible health effects of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters has adopted an evidence based approach. It has conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and has consulted widely. It has called for written evidence and has heard evidence from experts, members of the public, representatives of government, interest groups and the industry.

It has concluded that the balance of evidence to date suggests that exposures to RF radiation below guidelines recommended for the UK and those recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) do not cause adverse health effects to the general population. It understands that all mobile phones presently marketed in the UK comply with these guidelines. Exposures from base stations are very much below those from mobile phones.

There is now scientific evidence, however, which suggests that there may be biological effects occurring at exposures below these guidelines. This does not necessarily mean that these effects lead to disease or injury but it is not possible to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects. In the light of these findings the Expert Group recommends a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phone technologies until more detailed and scientifically robust information on any health effects becomes available.

Specific advice on a number of ways in which a precautionary approach may be adopted are considered in the report. Recommendations are made for Government, for industry, for the public, on the role of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and on research requirements.

Government has in place national guidelines established by NRPB on maximum levels of exposure to RF radiation emitted from mobile phones, base stations and other sources. In 1998 ICNIRP published its own guidelines. They were based on essentially the same evidence as that used by NRPB, and for workers the limits on exposure are similar. However, under the ICNIRP guidelines, the maximum levels of exposure of the public are about five times less than those recommended for workers. The Expert Group recommends that the ICNIRP public exposure guidelines are adopted for use in the UK.

The Expert Group has heard many concerns about the siting of base stations near schools and residential areas. Although the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near base stations there can be indirect effects on their well-being in some cases. The Expert Group recommends that permitted development rights for all base stations should be revoked and that the siting of all new base stations be subject to the normal planning process.

A series of measures are proposed which will inform the planning process and provide more information for the general public. These include the provision of information on the siting and specification of new base stations; the establishment of a national database of all base stations which will include details of their emissions; and an independent, ongoing, random audit of emissions from existing base stations. Further, the appointment of an Ombudsman is proposed to provide a focus for decisions on the siting of base stations where agreement cannot be reached locally.

In relation to base stations sited near schools, the Expert Group recommends that the beam of greatest intensity should not fall on any part of the school grounds or buildings without agreement from the school and parents. Similar considerations should apply to base stations sited near to school grounds. Particular attention should be paid to the auditing of emissions from base stations sited near schools.

For exposures from mobile phones a crucial issue is the absorption of energy in the body of the user. This is defined by the specific energy absorption rate (SAR). An international standard for the testing of phones should be adopted for use in the UK. The information on SAR from phones should be available to consumers at the point of sale, and on a national website.

In relation to providing improved information to the public, the Expert Group recommends that Government circulates a leaflet to every household providing clear understandable information on mobile phone technology and on related health aspects, including the detrimental effects of using mobile phones while driving.

There has been publicity about the use of devices that seek to reduce exposure and concerns have been expressed about their effectiveness. The Expert Group recommends that a national independent system of testing be set up which enables accurate information to be given about the merits of such devices for reducing exposure.

The Expert Group has supported the quality of the scientific work carried out by NRPB but recommends that it should give more priority to the execution of a more open and proactive approach to issues of public concern, such as the use of mobile phones. It also believes that work on non-ionising radiation and related life sciences work should be strengthened at NRPB.

The Expert Group has considered the need for further research. It recommends that priority be given to a number of areas of research related particularly to signals from handsets. These include: effects on brain function; the consequences of exposure to pulsed signals; improvements in dosimetry; the possible impact on health of subcellular and cellular changes in tissues; psychological and sociological studies related to individual well-being; and epidemiological and human volunteer studies, including the study of children and individuals who might be more susceptible to RF radiation.

The Expert Group recommends that a new research programme should be established and carried out under the supervision of a demonstrably independent panel and that funding should be provided by industry and the public sector, possibly on a 50:50 basis.

Finally, the Expert Group recommends that the issue of possible health effects of mobile phones should be the subject of a further review in three years time, or earlier if circumstances demand it.

The full report is available on this website, together with information on membership and on the work of the Expert Group since its first formal meeting in September 1999. Summaries of evidence presented to IEGMP at its meetings are also available on this site.