| Author (Person) | Chapman, Peter |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.43, 18.12.03, p26 |
| Publication Date | 18/12/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Peter Chapman Date: 18/12/03 DAVID Byrne, the commissioner for health and consumer protection, claims current rules governing the safety of mobile phone masts are good enough - even though he admits scientists have found evidence that exposure to third-generation (3G) radio fields could affect health. He was responding to recent Dutch research that showed an "unexpected but small negative correlation between well-being and exposure" to the signals. But Byrne said he was also aware of other studies in the Netherlands, which upheld previous results showing a "positive correlation" between "cognitive capabilities" - the ability to think - and exposure to GSM services. Mobile phone companies across the Union have been upgrading their networks - and building hundreds of masts for receiving and transmitting huge amounts of data, the key feature of 3G services. The issue is reaching political crisis proportions in some areas blighted by masts, as citizens - particularly parents of young children - worry about the risks to health, and also to the value of their homes. But Byrne insisted the Commission "had few worries". First, he claimed the Dutch study merely "calls for confirmation of its results and an extension of the study method", and said the Dutch researchers had not conclusively proved that living close to mobile phone masts affects health. Crucially, Byrne said, there was no evidence of any dangers to health beyond "the close vicinity of masts". The EU's recommended limits for exposure to electromagnetic fields were usually far higher than levels measured in the environment. The actual levels are only ever in the same order of magnitude as the EU limits "within metres" of mobile phone base stations surrounding the masts, Byrne explained. Despite Dutch research showing an 'unexpected but small negative correlation between well-being and exposure' to signals from mobile phone masts, David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, claims current European Union rules governing the safety of such masts are adequate. Many citizens worry about the risks to health from phone masts and the effect on property values from close proximity to masts. |
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