Mobile phone health risks to be probed

A team of researchers at Imperial College London is inviting mobile phone users to take part in a study to investigate the health implications of mobile phone usage.

The international Cohort Study on Mobile Communications study forms part of the university's Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme.

It will run for 20 to 30 years and the researchers aim is to finally settle the ongoing debate over links between mobile phone use and cancer, infertility and other health problems.

There have been many scare stories over the last few years but there is little evidence of harm from the short-term use of mobile phones. A study in 2000, led by Sir William Steward, found no clear or conclusive evidence of harm to health from exposure to mobile phone signals.

However, the technology is still relatively new and Sir William, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor between 1990 and 1995, said this did not rule out risks. He called for further research and said children under the age of eight should not use mobiles at all.

Following this study, the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme was set up in the UK to look into the possible health impact of using mobile devices.

Imperial College research and volunteers aged between 18 and 69 will be chosen from five European countries including the UK. Imperial College has asked mobile network operators to identify a random selection of their customers to be invited to participate in this study. An invitation pack is then posted to them by their operator.

In particular, the team will study any health problems such as cancers and neurological diseases, or whether any changes in the frequency of symptoms, such as headaches and sleep disorders, are related to mobile phone use.