1. What do the experts say about mobile phones and cancer?
More than 30 independent reviews undertaken around the world, including by the World Health Organisation, during the past eight years have not found adverse health effects for adults or children caused by mobile phone technology operating within the international (ICNIRP) and national (ARPANSA) exposure public exposure guideline levels.
In its latest update on all cancers, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organisation, concluded:
"With reference to radio frequency, available data do not show any excess risk of brain cancer and other neoplasms associated with the use of mobile phones" ….
and on p461of the report:
“After 1983 and more recently during the period of increasing prevalence of mobile phone users, the incidence has remained relatively stable for both men and women.”
(IARC World Cancer Report 2008)
In January 2009 the European Commission’s expert scientific committee (SCENIHR),concluded from three independent lines of evidence (epidemiological, animal and in vitro studies) that exposure to radio signals is unlikely to lead to an increase in cancer in humans.
They recommended that research continue and studies are underway in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom that aim to follow the health of 250,000 European mobile phone users to look for possible long term risks.
2. Can the emissions from a mobile phone base station affect the health of those nearby?
A lot of research has been done over the past five decades into the effects of radiofrequency (RF) signals. The weight of this research concludes that exposure to radiofrequency signals below recommended levels do not pose a risk to our health and well being.
Australia's own health authority, the Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) states that "the weight of National and International scientific opinion is that there is no substantiated evidence that living near a mobile phone antenna causes adverse health effects." (ARPANSA EME Series Fact Sheet 2, 2008)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also concluded that “there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF (radio frequency) signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.” (WHO Factsheet No. 304, 2006)
At Vodafone we ensure base stations comply with the National and International guideline limits in all publicly accessible areas. Access is restricted and signage is used around base stations to indicate the very limited area immediately around an antenna where it is possible for exposures to be above the National and International guideline limits.
3. What are the emission levels from a typical mobile phone base station?
The emission levels from a mobile phone base station depend on a number of factors, including the area the cell is designed to cover and the number of simultaneous calls it is designed to carry. Depending on the base station, power levels will normally be between two and 150 watts. Radiofrequency exposure levels from a typical Vodafone mobile base station at ground level are normally 0.1 to 1 per cent of the Australian Communications and Media Authority's mandatory limits (i.e. the ARPANSA Standard).
4. If more than one carrier is sharing a site, are the emission levels increased?
Generally yes. A shared site will have higher emission levels. However, the regulations require cumulative assessments to be undertaken for all carriers on a shared site. The cumulative exposure levels for the general public at shared sites cannot exceed the limits set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
5. When 3G antennas are added to an existing base station, do emissions increase?
As with a shared site, adding an additional 3G antenna will increase emissions slightly. But the resultant levels are still expected to be a fraction of the Australian Communications and Media Authority limits. The cell size for the 3G antenna is generally smaller and the cell size "shrinks" when in high use. Only very low levels of power are required to operate a 3G antenna.
6. Are the emission levels from base stations monitored by an independent body?
Yes. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) undertakes random audits of base stations as part of its regulatory function. The Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) also conducts measurement surveys of base stations and publishes the results on its website.
7. Why can't mobile phone base stations be sited away from residential areas?
For mobile networks to work, low powered base stations are required to be located in proximity to where people use their phones. In order to provide quality coverage, it is not always possible to locate a base station in areas far away from residences.
The idea of buffer zones around community sensitive sites, such as schools was evaluated by the Australian Communications Industry Forum, a Division of the Communications Alliance, in its Code for the Deployment of Mobile Network Infrastructure It concluded:
"The Code does not, as was requested in some submissions, specify distances at which infrastructure must be sited from community sensitive locations. This decision was taken by the Committee on the basis than an arbitrary distance does not necessarily reflect a precautionary approach. For example, infrastructure sited further from a sensitive area may need to operate at a greater power in order to meet the Carrier's service requirements and this may result in higher exposures in the area."
8. How close can members of the general public get to a base station antenna and not exceed exposure limits?
Base stations are designed so that no member of the public would be able to gain access inadvertently to the limited area near the antenna where there is the possibility that exposure limits could be reached (generally less than 10m directly in front of the antenna devices for a macro or full size base station). It is important to remember that the pole or tower simply supports the antennas and does not emit radiofrequency signals. The nearby cabins housing electrical cabling and other equipment are designed not to emit radiofrequency signals.
9. Can you guarantee that living and working near a base station is 100% safe?
It is impossible to give such a guarantee about anything in life. In 1999, the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee explained that "no matter how much research is done, it will never be possible to prove that something is not harmful. Scientific research can say that there is no evidence of risk or it can demonstrate that any risk is very low, but it cannot produce evidence of no risk." (UK House of Commons Mobile Phones and Health,1999)
In May 2000, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (Stewart Enquiry) endorsed this view, stating that "some people propose that new developments should only be permitted when they have been shown to be completely safe, but this is unrealistic. Science can never provide a guarantee of zero risk." (Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP), Stewart Report, 2000)
Whilst science cannot provide a zero risk guarantee, Vodafone supports independent quality research and the continued monitoring and health assessment by recognised expert groups such as the World Health Organisation Electromagnetic Fields Project.
10. How can anyone be sure that research will not show in years to come that mobile phone antenna systems are harmful to health?
More than 30 independent reviews undertaken around the world, including by the World Health Organisation, during the past eight years have not found adverse health effects for adults or children caused by mobile phone telephony operating within the ICNIRP public exposure guidelines (ARPANSA Standard).
In August 2009, ICNIRP reconfirmed the validity of its 1998 "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)” following the publication of its 358 page review of the scientific evidence on dosimetry, biological effects, epidemiological observations, and health consequences concerning exposure to radiofrequency fields. ICNIRP concludes:
"The scientific literature published since the 1998 guidelines has provided no evidence of any adverse effects below the basic restrictions and does not necessitate an immediate revision of its guidance on limiting exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields. Therefore, ICNIRP reconfirms the 1998 basic restrictions in the frequency range 100 kHz-300 GHz until further notice."
It is worth noting that when exposure guidelines are defined, they are based on preventing a known adverse health effect to which additional safety factors are added. People should also keep in mind that when scientists or expert groups refer to a biological effect, this does not necessarily mean an adverse health effect. For example, drinking a glass of water or even listening to music will produce a biological effect and we experience these effects throughout our lives. Indeed, vision is a biological effect based on the eye detecting radiofrequency signals at frequencies higher than those used for radio communications.
11. Who can I ask for an independent view on the safety of mobile phone base stations?
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) provides advice to the general public on such issues. Their website offers a series of electromagnetic emission fact sheets that cover the Radiofrequency Exposure Standard, public health issues related to electro magnetic emission, mobile phone networks and base stations, broadcast towers, potential interference issues, mobile phones and children and Australian research into electro magnetic emission (EME).
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) also deals with enquiries from the general public about the use of radio and interference issues.
12. Will a base station interfere with other electrical equipment - for example my computer or television?
There are National and International standards governing all forms of electronic equipment regarding the interference that such equipment produces and, in turn, its immunity to interference from outside. Any equipment compliant with these standards is unlikely to suffer or cause interference.
However, if a member of the public contacts Vodafone on a matter of interference in relation to its base stations, Vodafone will investigate the matter and take appropriate action if required. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will also investigate issues raised regarding interference in its management of the radiofrequency spectrum.
13. Will a mobile phone base station affect hospital equipment? Why are we told not to use mobile phones in hospitals?
A mobile phone base station, whether nearby or on the hospital roof, should not interfere with any equipment.
In most areas of a hospital, mobile phones do not pose any problems. However, using a mobile phone close to some sensitive electronic devices could possibly result in interference. You are advised to follow any instructions on mobile phone use given by the hospital.
For further information, please contact
Vodafone's RF Manager.
Phone: (02) 9415-7002 or (02) 9415-7008
Email: mobilesandhealth.au@vodafone.com
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Phone: (02) 6219 5555
http://emr.acma.gov.au
World Health Organization - EMF Project
www.who.int/peh-emf/en/
International Commission Non-ionising Radiation Protection. (ICNIRP)
www.icnirp.de/
Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Phone: (03) 9433 2211
www.arpansa.gov.au