| Mobile phone manufacturers
should take seriously a Swedish finding that their products
are dangerous for teenagers and work on developing safer
phones, says scientist Dr Neil Cherry.
Cherry, an associate professor
in environmental health at Lincoln University, Christchurch,
said there were more than 50 patents for devices or
methods to make phones safer that were not being used
by manufacturers.
"My estimate is that it is
practical to reduce users' exposure by 100 to 1000 times,"
he said.
"The primary methods are
to manufacture the handset within a 'Faraday cage' shield,"
he said.
"The antenna is on the outside
but focused into a narrow beam of about 30 degrees pointed
away from the user. The hands-free kit is a fibre-optic
cable to connect the phone to the ear and mouth."
Cherry was commenting on a study
by Swedish scientists, led by neurosurgeon Leif Salford
and published last month.
It found that cells in the parts
of rats' brains that controlled sensation, memory and
movement died after being exposed to various GSM phones
at different levels of radiation for two hours.
The rats tested were said to be
equivalent in age to teenagers.
Salford warned that long-term
exposure could potentially lower brain reserve capacity.
"We cannot exclude that after
some decades of [often] daily use, a whole generation
of users may suffer negative effects," he said.
There are 2.3 million mobile phones
in use in New Zealand, with an estimated 60 per cent
of households having at least one.
Cherry claimed that phone manufacturers
were promoting their products to teenagers and children
to create a lifelong customer base.
"Even though science shows
that mobile phones are more dangerous than tobacco,
they use the fact that radiation is invisible and can't
be seen or smelt like smoke."
He urged the Government to make
manufacturers place safety warning on phones. "Companies
should be required to publicly agree to make phones
much safer."
Cherry also urged parents to minimise
their children's use of mobile phones.
"They should find the lowest-exposure
cellphone, use a hands-free kit, and frequently question
phone makers so they are continuously made aware of
public concern. Whenever you can, use a wire phone."
Martin Gledhill, science adviser
at the National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch,
also advised consumers to take precautions but said
the Salford study had to be replicated and supported
by similar research before it could be accepted as definitive.
Children younger than 16 were
more vulnerable to radiation and should be discouraged
from using mobile phones, he said.
Manufacturers the Herald contacted
insisted their phones abided by international safety
standards.
Sony Ericsson general manager
David Georgetti said the Salford-led study was simply
a re-analysis of earlier data produced by Swedish researcher
Lennart Hardell.
"No overall statistically
significant increased risk was found for all mobile
phone users."
Georgetti said product safety
was a top priority for Sony and its products were well
within World Health Organisation limits.
"We have also introduced
some models with speaker-phone functionality [external
speaker and long-range microphone] and a desk-stand
accessory which converts any phone to speaker-phone,"
he said.
Motorola's director of communications
and public affairs (Pacific division), Russell Grimmer,
said safety was an important part of the company's business.
"We are sensitive and responsive
to any questions about the safety of Motorola products.
"We stand behind those products
and devote considerable resources to assuring their
safety."
Lane Stephens of Nokia Mobile
Phones NZ said emission rates were below the prescribed
limits.
"All Nokia phones fulfil
relevant national and international safety standards
and limits. Next-generation products are no different,
since they must meet the same limits."
Radiation risks
The National Radiation Laboratory,
a Ministry of Health business unit, provides expert
advice, service and research concerning public, occupational
and medical exposure to radiation. Its recommendations
on mobile phone use are:
* Use the phone in places with
a strong signal. This allows the phone to transmit at
low power (up to 100 times lower than its maximum value),
reducing exposure accordingly.
* Minimise the length of time
on calls.
* Extend the antenna and hold it away from the head.
* Use a hands-free kit with an external antenna.
Individuals concerned about exposure
to radiation from mobile phones can refer to guidelines
available at the National
Radiation Laboratory.
Useful links
* Associate
Professor Neil Cherry's studies on effects of radiation
* A
report on the effect of mobile phone shielding devices
* Dr
Leif Salford's study
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