§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to undertake further research into the health effects of G3 technology mobile telecommunication masts. [170128]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 4 May 2004]: A review of recent research entitled, "Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", published by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) advisory group on non-ionising radiation concluded:
Exposure levels from living near to mobile phone base stations are extremely low, and the overall evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a risk to health.Nevertheless, following the precautionary approach advocated by the independent expert group on mobile phones (IEGMP) in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk), the LINK mobile telecommunications and health research (MTHR) programme, was established under an independent programme management committee (PMC), following the publication of the IEGMP report. The PMC has expressed its wish to undertake research into the effects of 3G exposures and discussions are already taking place on how this can be added to the overall programme of research. Further information about this programme as a whole can be found on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.
461WThe operators of mobile telephone equipment, including 3G technologies, ensure that public exposure does not exceed national and international guidelines. A substantial number of measurements of potential exposures of the public from base station emissions, have been made by a number of bodies, including the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) (www.nrpb.org) and Ofcom, formerly the Radiocommunications Agency (www.ofcom.org.uk). In all cases, exposures have been very much lower than guidelines.