This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6990958.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cancer doubt remains over mobiles | Cancer doubt remains over mobiles |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The long-term cancer risk of mobile phone use cannot be ruled out, experts have concluded. | The long-term cancer risk of mobile phone use cannot be ruled out, experts have concluded. |
| A major six-year research programme found a "hint" of a higher cancer risk. | A major six-year research programme found a "hint" of a higher cancer risk. |
| But the UK Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHRP) did rule out short-term adverse effects to brain and cell function. | But the UK Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHRP) did rule out short-term adverse effects to brain and cell function. |
| Researchers are now expanding the programme to look at phone use over 10 years, and the specific impact on children, which has not been studied. | |
| The MTHRP programme, funded by the government and communications industry, has carried out 23 separate studies into the health impact of mobile phones, masts and base stations. | |
| We can't rule out the possibility at this stage that cancer could appear in a few years' time Professor Lawrie Challis | We can't rule out the possibility at this stage that cancer could appear in a few years' time Professor Lawrie Challis |
| Programme chairman Professor Lawrie Challis said it was now up to the government to offer advice. | Programme chairman Professor Lawrie Challis said it was now up to the government to offer advice. |
| The team found that there was a slight excess reporting of brain and acoustic neuroma (ear) cancers. | The team found that there was a slight excess reporting of brain and acoustic neuroma (ear) cancers. |
| Researchers said this was on the borderline of statistical significance. | Researchers said this was on the borderline of statistical significance. |
| Professor Challis said that it was only responsible to do more research, citing the way smoking was not linked to lung cancer at first. | Professor Challis said that it was only responsible to do more research, citing the way smoking was not linked to lung cancer at first. |
| Time will tell | Time will tell |
| He said: "We can't rule out the possibility at this stage that cancer could appear in a few years' time. | He said: "We can't rule out the possibility at this stage that cancer could appear in a few years' time. |
| "With smoking there was no link of any lung cancer until after ten years." | "With smoking there was no link of any lung cancer until after ten years." |
| He said the problem during the study was that there had been very few people using mobile phones for over ten years. | He said the problem during the study was that there had been very few people using mobile phones for over ten years. |
| Cancers do not normally appear until ten to 15 years after exposure. | Cancers do not normally appear until ten to 15 years after exposure. |
| But he said overall the evidence that mobiles did not pose a significant health risk was "pretty reassuring". | But he said overall the evidence that mobiles did not pose a significant health risk was "pretty reassuring". |
| The current precautionary approach - involving limited restrictions on mast-siting relating to schools for example and advice about limiting use by young children - is reasonable Dr Evan Harris, of the Lib Dems | |
| The team looked at factors affecting blood pressure, heart rate, and electrical hypersensitivity, which include symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and tingling. | The team looked at factors affecting blood pressure, heart rate, and electrical hypersensitivity, which include symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and tingling. |
| They concluded there was no risk. | They concluded there was no risk. |
| It was established following publication of an independent government-commissioned report into the safety of mobile phones in 2000. | It was established following publication of an independent government-commissioned report into the safety of mobile phones in 2000. |
| The report, produced by a group led by Sir William Stewart, concluded that mobile phones did not appear to harm health - but recommended further research was carried out. | The report, produced by a group led by Sir William Stewart, concluded that mobile phones did not appear to harm health - but recommended further research was carried out. |
| However, in 2005 Sir William warned that mobile phone use by children should be limited as a precaution - and that under-eights should not use them at all. | However, in 2005 Sir William warned that mobile phone use by children should be limited as a precaution - and that under-eights should not use them at all. |
| There are now 70 million mobile phone handsets in the UK, and around 50 thousand masts. | There are now 70 million mobile phone handsets in the UK, and around 50 thousand masts. |
| Both emit radio signals and electromagnetic fields that can penetrate the human brain, and campaigners fear that this could seriously damage human health. | Both emit radio signals and electromagnetic fields that can penetrate the human brain, and campaigners fear that this could seriously damage human health. |
| Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said the findings were "good news for the public", but it was only right more research was carried out. | |
| "The current precautionary approach - involving limited restrictions on mast-siting relating to schools for example and advice about limiting use by young children - is reasonable and this research demonstrates that there is as yet no justification for a more restrictive approach." |