§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to set up a public inquiry into the health effects of G3 technology telephone masts; [147054]
(2) if he will make a statement on the health effects of G3 technology telephone masts. [147059]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonGovernment advice on mobile phones and health is based on the Stewart Report, issued in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk). In respect of base stations they concluded
The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines.The operators of mobile telephone equipment including 3rd Generation (3G) systems should ensure that public exposure does not exceed the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Measurements undertaken by the Radiocommunications Agency, now part of OFCOM (www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/rahome.htm), have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines.
562WThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has statutory responsibility for providing overall advice on health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields including radio waves. Research published since the Stewart Report, including research on 3G effects, has been reviewed by the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Their review was announced on 14 January 2004 and concludes that
The weight of evidence now available does not suggest that there are adverse health effects from exposures to RF (radiofrequency) fields below guideline levels, but the published research on RF exposures and health has limitations, and mobile phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively short time.The report is available on the NRPB web site at: http://www.nrpb.org./ review/docs nrpb/absd14–2.htm. Copies have been placed in the Library.