Health hazards cited
U.K. says it can’t ensure safety of mobile phones
A Healthcare InfoTech Staff Report
A top British government adviser told members of Parliament this week that the safety of mobile phones cannot be absolutely guaranteed, following recent U.K. medical reports indicating that the phones pose risk hazards as a result of radiation.
Professor Liam Donaldson, the government’s chief medical officer, told the Science and Technology Committee that it is "difficult to make black and white statements about mobiles being safe or unsafe." His comments came as the U.K. government is preparing to launch a study of the public health scare in that region. The government is setting up a scientific advisory panel, which will include consumer groups, to examine the safety of mobile phones following recent media reports on the issue. The most recent was a BBC documentary in which various scientists suggested a connection between brain tumors and heavy mobile phone use.
Obviously attempting to avoid a public panic, Health Minister Tessa Jowell denied that there is any hard evidence demonstrating that the phone are a health risk. "As of now," she said, "there is no conclusive evidence that there are ill effects to health." She added, however, that the government "maintains an open mind and works to keep ahead of public anxiety."
Jowell said mobile phone companies could submit evidence, but they would not be allowed to sit on the advisory group in order to protect the integrity of the research. "I am very concerned that as a government the public trust us and we are in a position to provide good and reliable information," she said.
Her comments come at a time when public mistrust of the British government is high as a result of its handling of "mad cow" disease. Reassurances of absolute safety proved untrue and this has increased suspicion about "official" statements on a variety of health issues.
The increased pressure to develop a clear answer to the question comes after the European Commission earlier this year refused to put health warnings on mobile phones saying that such action could not be supported by scientific evidence.
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