§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the possible effect on health of living or working in close proximity to mobile telephone transmitter towers. [1021]
§ Ms JowellThe Department of Health is currently supporting the following initiatives
- (1) the review of possible health effects of electromagnetic fields, including mobile phone (microwave) frequencies, being undertaken by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiations to the National Radiological Protection Board;
- (2) the World Health Organisation study of electromagnetic fields and;
- (3) the Department's own radiation protection research programme.
In addition, a European Commission Expert Group, has recommended a programme of scientific research to address the subject of mobile telephony and human health.
Field strengths of electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone transmitters, at locations to which the public would normally have access, are below the limits of exposure recommended by the National Radiological Protection Board published in "Documents of the NRPB, vol. 4, No. 5, 1993", copies of which are available in the Library.