Possible Health Effects Arising from the use of Mobile Phones

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

The mobile phone industry

There are upwards of 17 million mobile phone users in the UK today Rapid expansion of the market is forecast for the next 2-3 years, this being due to
the falling costs of ownership and use, and, increased competition in market

This rapid market expansion has created a need for more base (transmitter) stations to handle the increase in communications traffic
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

So, how do mobiles work?

Mobile phone handsets (mobiles) are, in effect, low-power radiotelephone transmitters
mobiles convert low frequency speech signals into high frequency microwave signals these microwave signals are transmitted via the mobiles antenna to a nearby base station the base station picking up the call relays the signals to a base station in an adjacent cell the call is passed along a network of cells (the cellular network) to the recipient

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

More about base stations

Base stations (transmitters) are organised in roughly hexagonal cells of eight transmitter masts

the area covered by each cell is related to the amount of mobile traffic it is expected to handle; and also by factors such as local geography (hills, valleys and buildings can cause problems with signal transmissions)

note that the microwave signals are transmitted towards the horizon & slightly downwards

in general, cells tend to be closely spaced in cities and cover larger areas in rural regions

approximately 95% of the UK is covered by this cellular network

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Microwave radiation
Mobiles and base stations emit microwave signals - and microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation.
the frequencies of the emitted microwave radiations are 900 megahertz (MHz) and 1800 MHz for the purposes of comparison, television broadcasting uses electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range 400 MHz to 860 MHz

The power output of microwave signals emitted by mobiles is very low

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

The electromagnetic spectrum

1pm wavelength 100nm 300nm 700nm 1mm 100cm 10 km

Visible ionising radiation UVB UVC UVA ouch! - sunburn! infra red radio micro waves frequency

microwave radiation is part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which includes ionising radiation, visible light, radio & tv waves
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Health concerns
It is not the type of radiation (i.e. microwaves) but the quantity of deposited radiation energy that causes concern

an analogy: sunbathing is not detrimental to health, however persistent over-exposure to strong sunshine may promote skin cancer

Large power densities (quantities) of microwave radiation can have two effects on the body
thermal, and/or, athermal (non-thermal) effects

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Thermal effects of microwave radiation

Microwaves absorbed in the body are converted (transduced) into heat
the amount of heat produced is related to the quantity of energy deposited the scientific measure of heat transduction is the specific energy absorption rate (SAR), which is measured in watts per kilogram of irradiated tissue (W/kg)

this measurement is important when assessing possible health effects

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Thermal effects; limits and guidelines for mobiles

There are limits on exposure to microwave radiation

the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), the Governments radiation watchdog, recommends exposure limits

The limit on exposure to microwave radiation emitted by mobiles is 0.1W in any 10g of tissue

this means that the energy deposited in the section of the brain which lies alongside a mobiles antenna should be less than 0.1W (in a six minute phone call)

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Thermal effects; limits and guidelines for base stations

The NRPB limit on exposure to microwave radiation emitted by base stations is 0.4W per kg of tissue

this protects people who might be standing by, or who may or live next to a base station and whose whole body is exposed

The levels of microwave radiation emitted by mobiles and base stations are much lower than NRPB limits, on this criteria mobiles and base stations are safe
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Thermal effects: conclusion

The available scientific evidence suggests that mobile phones and base stations do not give rise to any harmful thermal effects DANGER By far the greatest risk to health is using (holding) a mobile whilst driving - a practice which is illegal

even using hands-free devices is unsafe because the drivers attention will not be on the road

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Non-thermal effects of microwave radiation

There are genuine concerns over possible nonthermal effects of mobile phone usage, these have arisen from the findings of (valid) scientific studies, findings which have shown that
the hormonal control of bodily functions may be effected (the so-called Melatonin Hypothesis) in the laboratory, low SARs (see slide 9) effect the bio-energetics of living systems chromosomal defects have arisen in a small number of mobile phone network engineers

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Scientific evidence
It must be emphasised that, to date, the available evidence is inconclusive and further research is required in a number of key medical and biological areas In particular, no valid epidemiological (human health) studies have been conducted - such studies are crucial in providing evidence from which reasoned conclusions can be drawn It is, however, important to note that the lack of evidence does not imply an absence of risk
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Non-thermal effects: conclusion

On balance, current research does not indicate the likelihood of any long-term health effects associated with the use of mobile phones, or through exposure to microwave radiation emitted from base stations

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Advice on mobiles
Mobile phones are invaluable, and there are no strong health grounds as to why they should not be used A precaution would be to use a hands free adapter, even in the street or at the desk

these are easy to use, comfortable, fashionable and will not interfere with reception/transmission

Limit the time spent on your mobile - use a traditional phone where possible
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Advice on base stations

Base stations produce very weak power densities at ground level which do not cause concern Where mounted on buildings, power densities in internal rooms are similarly very weak and do not cause concern Power densities are very high immediately in front of transmitter antennas p the antennas must not be approached by persons who have not received appropriate safety training
Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Further information
The following are sources of detailed and technical information on mobiles and electromagnetic radiation
The Scientific Steering Committee of the European Commission (1998). Opinion on possible health effects from exposure to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz 300 GHz). http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/ssc/out19_en.html European Commission Expert Group (1999). Possible health effects related to the use of radiotelephones. http://www.europa.eu.int/en/record/other/radiosum.htm Federation of the Electronics Industry (1998). Is my mobile phone safe?
http://www.fei.org.uk/fei/issues/mobile/feidea9a.htm

National Radiological Protection Board. Background information on mobile phones. http://www.nrpb.org.uk

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999

Copyright information: This presentation may be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes providing the format of the presentation is not changed in any manner whatsoever, and that reference is given to the Radiation Protection and Safety Services of the University of Leeds

Radiation Protection & Safety Services Copyright I K Haslam 1999