Nexus - 0904 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

CHILDREN AND MOBILE PHONE USE: Is there a Health Risk? CHILDREN AND Mobile Phones (IEGMP) to examine possi- "They are irresponsible because chil- MOBILE PHONE USE: ble effects of mobile phones and transmit- dren's skulls are not fully developed. They Is there a Health Risk? ter base stations. This group was headed _ will be using mobile phones for longer, and by Don Maisch © 2002 by Sir William Stewart, the famous British _ their effects won't be known for some time biochemist and President of the British to come. Mobile phone technology has r “Nhe paper, "Mobile Phone Use: it's Association for the Advancement of _ been led by the physical sciences. My own time to take precautions", published — Science. view is we ought to be doing more work on in the April 2001 issue of the What made the Stewart Inquiry unique _ the potential biological effects." Journal of the Australasian College of _ was that it was made up almost entirely of Sir William also said he would not allow Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, biomedical specialists who were were able _ his grandchildren to use mobile phones. examines what is currently known about to focus many man-years of acquired spe- the possible hazards of mobile phone use. cialist knowledge on the problem. Their 2) On December 8, 2000, the German At first, this subject may not seem rele- report, "Mobile Phones and Health", was Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement vant to children's lives until it is realised released in April 2000. In regard to the use —_ advising parents to restrict their children's that, today, the fastest growing group of of mobile phones by children, the IEGMP use of mobile phones. They advised that mobile phone users are children and young _ stated: all mobile phone users should keep conver- people. This growth is actively sations as brief as possible, but that addi- encouraged by professional advertis- tional precautions are appropriate for ing campaigns from the mobile phone children in view of "special health industry, extolling how indispensable For the sake of the future risks" associated with their growing epionsaio ther els: | of our children’s health, ff == voiced by the managing director of the we need to heed these 3) On July 31, 2001, Wolfram dunt Teeconmuicaiens Ue | voices seriously and limit Kosnie, th gov, Bead of the expressed concerns about mobile children's unnecessary use is the federal authority for radiation mone compas itech tree | of mobile phones. etn cement an after the young people with prepay that "Parents should take their children cards and coloured handsets," he said. away from that technology [mobile With this advertising blitz, produce: phones]". Mr Koenig, also a member by the same transnational public relations "If there are currently unrecognised of Germany's Greens party, said that corporations that previously gave us such adverse health effects from the use of "Some people are very sensitive to radia- delightful cartoon characters as "Joe mobile phones, children may be more tion" and urged companies not to target Camel" for the tobacco industry, no words vulnerable because of their developing children in their advertising campaigns. of warning are heard. However, within the nervous system, the greater absorption of scientific community, there is a growing energy in the tissues of the head and a 4) In a statement delivered at an chorus of expert voices that are urging cau- longer lifetime of exposure. In line with Australian Senate Inquiry meeting in 2001, tion because, if there are adverse health our precautionary approach, we believe CSIRO Telecommunications and Industrial effects from mobile phone use, it will be that the widespread use of mobile phones Physics chief Gerry Haddad warned that the children who will be in the front line by children for non-essential calls should the new telecommunications exposure and who may pay the highest price. For be discouraged. We also recommend that standards do not require a high enough the sake of the future of our children's the mobile phone industry should refrain level of protection, particularly in relation health, we need to heed these voices seri- from promoting the use of mobile phones to children. Mr Haddad advised: "Restrict ously and limit children's unnecessary use _ by children." use of mobile phones to children for of mobile phones. Sir William said at a science conference _ essential purposes." at ON T Cantambhar INN1 For the sake of the future of our children's health, we need to heed these voices es seriously and limit "If there are currently unrecognised adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones, children may be more vulnerable because of their developing nervous system, the greater absorption of energy in the tissues of the head and a longer lifetime of exposure. In line with our precautionary approach, we believe that the widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged. We also recommend that the mobile phone industry should refrain from promoting the use of mobile phones by children." Sir William said at a science conference at Glasgow University in September 2001 that mobile phone makers often present their products in adverts as essential "back to school" items for children. Such adverts are irresponsible, said Sir William. He added: 4) In a statement delivered at an Australian Senate Inquiry meeting in 2001, CSIRO Telecommunications and Industrial Physics chief Gerry Haddad warned that the new telecommunications exposure standards do not require a high enough level of protection, particularly in relation to children. Mr Haddad advised: "Restrict use of mobile phones to children for essential purposes.” The voices of reason 1) In 1999, as a result of public concerns about possible health hazards from mobile phone technology, the UK Government formed the Independent Expert Group on 5) Olle Johansson, Associate Professor at the Experimental Dermatology Unit in the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, made this statement in an email to this JUNE - JULY 2002 NEXUS ¢ 49 by Don Maisch © 2002 children's unnecessary use -f --b*i- ~b-_-- of mobile phones. www.nexusmagazine.com