Doctors claim proof of health problems from mobile phones

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This is LONDON
09/02/05 - News and city section

Proof of mobile health risk
By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent, Evening Standard

Doctors today claim to have found the first proof of health problems
caused by mobile phones.

They say up to five per cent of the population could be suffering
headaches, mood swings and hearing problems caused by radiation from
handsets.

Experts are advising people - especially children - to limit their use
of phones if they experience headaches or other symptoms.

The research, by the Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA),
was carried out on 16 people who had complained of symptoms from using
mobile phones and were particularly sensitive to electromagnetic
radiation.

The 16 were studied over several months. They were examined by
doctors, filled in detailed questionnaires charting their use of
mobile phones, and underwent medical tests including blood and liver
analysis.

It was found 13 suffered symptoms including nausea, headaches and
dizziness which researchers believe are a clear indication of
radiation. IDEA chairman Dr Philip Michael said: "This is causing
disabilities in a large section of the population.

"We are working on funding for a far larger study which will use blind
testing to prove beyond doubt that mobile phones are responsible, but
we believe the evidence is now overwhelming.

"These problems can get very difficult to deal with - we had one
person in our study who was basically confined to their house because
of the symptoms."

He advised anyone suffering from the symptoms the study describes to
limit the time they spend on their mobile, and to try to stay away
from mobile phone masts.

The research was this week presentedto a select committee of Irish
MPs, who, it is hoped, will back plans for further research.

Other experts in the field said they were not surprised by the results
of the study. Dr Michael Maier of Imperial College said more research
was needed, adding: "There is so much anecdotal evidence I think more
findings along these lines are inevitable.

"The biggest problem is that it is hard to measure any effects as
people use their phones so differently.

"But the brain is an electrical instrument, and the frequency of
radiation produced is very close to that used in the brain, so it's no
big surprise to find a phone is interfering with that frequency,
causing headaches, nausea and the other problems."

Last month experts advising the Government warned that children under
eight should not be given mobile phones because of the potential
health risks.

Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, said:
"I don't think we can put our hands on our hearts and say mobile
phones are safe. If there are risks, and we think there may be risks,
then the people who are going to be most affected are children."

That study, by the National Radiological Protection Board, found no
firm conclusion could be reached on the impact of mobile phones.

IDEA is made up of 30 leading Irish doctors, and is affiliated with
the World Health Organisation. It is part of a group awarded the Nobel
prize for physics in 1985. Members include Dr Patrick Hillery, the
ex-President of Ireland and an EU commissioner.