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mobile phones, that can be scientifically challenged." The NRPB's position was further criticised in September 1999 when a House of Commons Select Committee Report also recom- mended that the NRPB reduce its exposure guideline levels to fall in line with those of the ICNIRP.'' The NRPB rejected this advice at the time, but the pressure of the recent Stewart Report has finally proved impossible to resist. I would strongly advise that mobile phone users, especially young people, use some sort of protection on their phones and keep calls as short as possible. Given the organs involved, it's just not worth the risk not to do so. I'm talking about cumulative, pulsed RF radiation going into your head, eyes and other organs every day for the rest of your life—and that's a long time! oo Basic Definitions * | hertz (Hz) = one cycle per second; 1 kilohertz (kHz) = 1,000 Hz; | megahertz (MHz) = 1,000,000 Hz; 1 gigahertz (GHz) = 1,000,000,000 Hz. ¢ The radiofrequency (RF) spectrum spans approximately 100 kHz to 300 MHz; the microwave (MW) spectrum spans 300 MHz to about 30 GHz. ADVICE ON PROTECTIVE DEVICES * | hertz (Hz) = one cycle per second; | kilohertz (kHz) = 1,000 In the Select Committee Report, the British Medical Hz; | megahertz (MHz) = 1,000,000 Hz; 1 gigahertz (GHz) = Association's evidence to the Committee called for "prudent 1,000,000,000 Hz. avoidance" and recommended that consumers should have access * The radiofrequency (RF) spectrum spans approximately 100 to protective devices to reduce radiation exposure. kHz to 300 MHz; the microwave (MW) spectrum spans 300 MHz Recently, Which?” published a report in which it claimed that to about 30 GHz. research it had carried out showed that remote hands-free headsets tripled EMF About the Author: a exposure. However, the claimed results . Simon Best, MA, is a medical journal- have been strongly criticised and Which? | would strongly advise that sand C the South) of the a biophiysi: has been less than forthcoming in releas- H cist Dr Cyril Smith) of the award-win- ing its data and methodology. The mobile phone users, ning book Electromagnetic Man: research was actually carried out by ERA especially young people, Health and Hazard in the Electrical , in Lez 4 . Envi t (Dent, London, 1988; St Technology in Leatherhead, Surrey, but use some sort of protection Marine Pe NY 1989). they refuse to discuss the findings. . r | ; , Which? has been strongly criticised and on their phones and keep sun i ae ic Philo airect cone received threats of legal action if A , retractions were not made. Replications calls as short as possible. Powerwatch ; UK) of the of certain tests are being planned and Electromagnetic Hazard & Therapy Which? is about to publish further studies nen Haas taunched in 1988 and that it claims will support its view. : Published four times a year, ris Previous tests by others have found only a 15% to 30% increase in the only independent, regular news report in the UK covering radiation into the ear, in a worst-case scenario. However, these research and debate on the health hazards of EM fields, as devices are useful for keeping the radiation away from the body, related to powerlines, vous moore phores/antenna, masts and their instructions only emphasise advice to keep calls as short orthodox and complement a medeine i neluding elec. x y icine, includi - as possible. Of those devices on the market, the two that have been subject- trotherapy and magnetotherapy. ed to the most research and testing are the Microshield and Tecno AO Antenna. The former is a barrier shield that tests show does significantly reduce radiation into the head, depending on what level of power the phone is using. The Tecno device aims to boost the body's ability to cope with the radiation and focuses Contact Details: For details and back issue contents, send SSAE to: Electromagnetic Hazard & Therapy, Box 2039, Shoreham, W. Sussex BN43 5/D, UK, or phone the premium rate helpline more on the 217 Hz pulse, which tests show it does mitigate. (UK only, £1 -50/min) on 0906 4010237. International Both companies can provide research to back their claims enquiries, send SAE with international postage coupon, or e- (Microshield, tel. +44 (0)208 3633333; Tecno distributor, tel. +44 Mall simonbest@em-hazard-therapy.com, or visit website (0)1227 832262). www.em-hazard-therapy.com. Subscriptions (4 issues): £22 UK, £24 Europe, £26 North America, £28 elsewhere. on their phones and keep calls as short as possible. Contact Details: For details and back issue contents, send SSAE to: Electromagnetic Hazard & Therapy, Box 2039, Shoreham, W. Sussex BN43 5/D, UK, or phone the premium rate helpline (UK only, £1.50/min) on 0906 4010237. International enquiries, send SAE with international postage coupon, or e- mail simonbest@em-hazard-therapy.com, or visit website www.em-hazard-therapy.com. Subscriptions (4 issues): £22 UK, £24 Europe, £26 North America, £28 elsewhere. Endnotes ation, continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 1998;399:55-64. 1. Independent Expert Group on Mobile 50, 200 Hz", Microsc. Res. Tech. 9. Repacholi, M. et al., "Lymphomas in Eu- Phones 2000 (chairman Sir William Stewart), 1994;27:535-42. pim1 transgenic mice exposed to pulsed 900 "Mobile Phones and Health", May 2000. Full 5. Lai, H. and N. Singh, "Single- and double- MHzelectromagnetic fields", Radiation report is at website www.iegmp.org.uk. Also strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells after acute Research 1997;147(5):631-40. available from the NRPB, price £20, telephone °XPosure to radiofrequency electromagnetic 10. "House of Commons meeting on phones +44 (0)1235 831600. sera e J. Radiat. Biol. and masts", report in Electromagnetic Hazard 2. Coghill, R., "Mobile Phones and Health: 96;69:513-21. & Therapy 1999;10(1-2):3. 6. Preece, A. et al., "Effect of a 915 MHz sim- ulated mobile phone signal on cognitive func- tion in man", Intern. J. Radiat. Biol. 11. House of Commons Select Committee, "Mobile Phones and Public Health", Report No. why the missing evidence?", Electromagnetic Hazard & Therapy 2000;11(1). 3. Mild, Kjell-Hansson et al., "Comparison of 1999:75(4):447-56. 489. To obtain a copy (approx. £20 for the two analogue and digital mobile phone users and 7. Tattersall, J. et al., "The effects of radiofre- volumes), telephone +44 (0)345 023474 (credit symptoms. A Swedish-Norwegian epidemio- quency electromagnetic fields in the electro- card orders) or write to: Stationery Office, Box logical study", National Institute of Working physiology of rat brain slices in vitro", IEE 276, Publications Centre, London SW8 STD, Life, Umea, Sweden, Arbetslivsrapport Science Meeting, 28 June 1999, London, ref. UK. Also visit website www.parliament.uk/ 1998;23. For details and cost, e-mail 99043, CBD, Porton Down, UK. commons/selcom and go to "Science and forlage @niwl.se. 8. Daniells, C., D. de Pomerai et al., Technology Committee". 4. Salford, L. et al. "Permeability of the blood- "Transgenic nematodes as bio-markers of 12. Which?, UK Consumers’ Association, April brain barrier by 915 MHz electromagnetic radi- _ microwave-induced stress", Mutation Research — 2000. 20 - NEXUS DECEMBER 2000 — JANUARY 2001