Betreff: Three recent letters to IRISH EXAMINER re mobile phone health concerns
Von: Imelda O'Connor
Datum: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 12:24:04 +0100 (BST)


One of the Irish daily broadsheets--IRISH
EXAMINER--has helped highlight our EHS cum cellphone
plight by publishing three strong letters on this
issue on three consecutive Mondays this month. I have
transcribed them below. Best, Imelda, Cork
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IRISH EXAMINER, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005

"Mobile Phone Health Threat Is Very Real

Hugh Sheehy (Irish Examiner letters, March 24) says
there is no scientific evidence that mobile phone
systems have negative health effects.
This is not true. Various mainland European
studies have found that red blood cells are 'lumped'
by mobile phone use, cognitive functions are
influenced by normal levels of radiation from mobile
phone masts and there is damage to DNA.
Nor is it true that all countries have concluded
there are no damaging effects. Nobody denies the heat
effect of radiofrequent radiation. However, there is
debate about the reality of radiofrequent radiation
sickness because the results of research are not
consistent and the working mechanism is not known.
I agree with Mr Sheehy that the Irish Doctors'
Environmental Association should give evidence.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) does
accept the existence of electrohypersensitivty (EHS)
to low and high frequency radiation.
The WHO website says: "It comprises nervous
system symptoms like headache, fatigue, stress, sleep
disturbances, skin symptoms like prickling, burning
sensations and rashes, pain and ache in muscles and
many other health problems. Whatever its cause, EHS
is a real and sometimes a disabling problem for the
affected persons."
Many peeple already have small problems, but most
will not notice until they start to get headaches.

Frans Van Velden
Dirk Hoogenraadstraat 95
2586 TD
The Hague
The Netherlands

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IRISH EXAMINER, MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005



"Mobile phones health threat is real and there is
ample scientific evidence to prove it

Contrary to Hugh Sheehy's assertion (Irish Examiner
letters March 24), the claim by Dr Elizabeth Cullen of
the Irish Doctors' Environmental Association that
there is "ample evidence" about the dangers from
microwave radiation from mobile phone base stations is
correct.
When Communications Minister Noel Dempsey ruled
out health warnings for mobile phones at the beginning
of December he said that he relied on officials with
expertise to advise him on health isssues relating
to electromagnetic energy. Surely his and the finance
minister's advisers must be aware of recent studies
which show the alarming increase in illnesses in
people living in the vicinity of mobile phone base
stations and in those using mobile phones, especially
children and young adults.
Junior Finance Minister Tom Parlon confirmed that
a deal is being negotiated by the Office of Public
Works (OPW) to put up mobile phone masts on many
state-owned buildings. This is yet another sweetheart
deal with big industry.
As early as 1987 Swedish scientists discovered in
experiments on rats that microwaves open the
blood-brain barrier with the result that albumin, a
very large protein, can enter the brain.
Albumin often carries environmental or other
poisons in the bloodstream into the brain (eg, in the
case of an infection or mercury leaking from amalgam
tooth fillings).
The results of these experiments have been
confirmed by many international scientists.
The likelihood that the human blood/brain barrier
is broken down the same way was confirmed by the
German environmental researcher Dr Bodo Kuklinski, who
measured the amount of the so-called S-100 protein and
found the opening of the blood-brain barrier in people
suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
He found a peak of S-100 in teenagers after they
made mobile phone calls.
Pecurliarly, studies commissioned by the mobile
phone industry didn't show any significant results.
A study in the Bavarian town of Naila (by H.Eger,
et al, published in the latest issue of 'Umwelt,
Medizin, Gesellschaft', 4/2004) shows that cancer
rates in people lliving within a 400m radium of mobile
phone base stations trebled within the past nine
years. Two other recent European studies found a
signficant link between radiation from mobile phone
base stations and symptoms in people living in the
vicinity.
The most frequent symptoms are of a neurological
order: severe headaches--often the first sign of brain
tumours, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, sleeping
disorders, lack of concentration, memory loss,
iritability, difficulties when speaking, fatigue,
depressive tendencies and cardiovascular problems.
The guaranteed E 100m for the state coffers won't
be nearly enough to cover the increasing cost in
health (cancer cases will rise dramatically),
education (there will be far more special needs
children), the cost to business due to loss in working
hours and a large number of insurance claims due to an
increasse in the number of accidents and resultant
costs arising from police investigation.
On January 1 of this year a group of
international physicians and researchers launched the
Helsinki Appeal 2005, asking members of the
European Parliament to act promptly for the adoption
of the new safety standards in the EU.

A number of questions should be put to the
Government: will there be epidemiological studies on
people living near mobile phone installations. If not,
why not?
Does the term state-owned buildings also mean
schools, colleges and courthouses? Radiation from
mobile phone stations deprive pupils of the basic
requirements of learning - concentration and memory.
Will the Government publish a list of all mobile
phone installations. If not, why not? When prices fall
for houses near mobile phone base stations, will the
Government grant compensation to house owners?
Will the Governemnt put up warning signs like:
"Entering this area can seriously damage your health"?

Dorothee Krien
9 Mathew Place
Blackrock Road
Ballintemple
Cork city

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IRISH EXAMINER, APRIL 18, 2005

"Let's Study Effects of Mobile Phone Bases

The sentiments expressed by Hugh Sheedy of Barcelona,
Spain (Irish Examiner Letters, March 24) for the Irish
taxpayers are very touching.
However, as an Irish taxpayer, I would rather be
out of pocket than without my good health.
I would welcome an Irish-based, non-industry
driven study into the perceived ill-health effects of
mobile phone base stations, and the work carried out
by Dr Elizabeth Cullen and her colleagues is to be
applauded.
Mr Sheehy needs to get his facts in order.
Studies carried out in the Netherlands, Sweden,
Spain, Germany and France all concluded that base
station emissions have significant health effects on
people living within 300m of them.
Indeed in Sweden and the state of California, EHS
is a medically recognised condition.
And it is on this point that I echo the facts put
forward by Frans van Velden of The Hague (Irish
Examiner Letters, April 4).
If the major studies to which Mr Sheehy refers
state there is no evidence of damaging effects from
base stations, why then did these same studies
conclude that evidence might be found in the future.
The major studies to which he refers seem to be
self-contradictory.
After extensive personal research I know of no
study of health effects from base stations that does
not show such ill-health effects.
Perhaps Mr Sheehy is referring to statements
which are intermittently released by industry and
official sources that claim or suggest there is no
evidence of ill-health effects from mast emissions.
These are nothing more than mere statements and are
completely untrue.
There are many grey areas surrounding this issue.
One in particular is that most insurance
companies carry a clause in their policy conditions
which indemnify and exclude them from any claims in
respect of exposure to magnetic electric or
electromagnetic fields or non-ionising radiation.
It would seem the insurance industry has adopted
a precautionary approach to this technology.
As it is effectively still in its infancy, a
precautionary approach should be adopted across the
board until there is conclusive evidence either way.

Ann Coughlan
Galbally
Co Limerick

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