Terms of Reference

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In March 1999, the Chairman of NRPB, Sir Walter Bodmer FRS, was asked by Tessa Jowell, the Minister for Public Health, to set up an independent expert working group to assess the current state of research into possible health risks from mobile phones. NRPB welcomed this development, given its expertise in this area, its involvement in national and international work on this topic and the work of the existing Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation.

The terms of reference of the working group were as follows:

To consider present concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters, to conduct a rigorous assessment of existing research and to give advice based on the present state of knowledge. To make recommendations on further work that should be carried out to improve the basis for sound advice.

First issued 12 October 1999