Mobile phone radiation report
Advisory group says possibility remains that there
could be health effects
14 January 2004
An independent Advisory Group has reviewed
the evidence for health effects from radiofrequency transmissions,
especially that published since the Stewart Report on Mobile
Phones and Health in 2000. They found that biological and
epidemiological evidence does not suggest cancer causation, in
particular from mobile phone use, nor any other adverse health
effect from radiofrequency exposures at levels below guidelines.
However, there are limitations to the research carried
out so far, and mobile phones have only been in widespread use
for a relatively short time. The Advisory Group concludes that
there is still a possibility that there could be health effects
from exposure to radiofrequency transmissions below guideline
levels, and continued research is needed.
A number of studies have suggested possible effects
on brain function at RF exposure levels comparable with those
from mobile phone handset usage, but AGNIR regard the overall
evidence as inconclusive.
Other studies have indicated effects of pulse modulated
RF on the movement of calcium ions in cells and tissues of the
nervous system. However, AGNIR found that the early results are
not supported by recent, better conducted studies.
Regarding exposures in the vicinity of mobile phone
base stations, AGNIR has examined data from a number of surveys
and concluded that exposure levels are extremely low and the evidence
indicates that they are unlikely to pose a health risk.
Nevertheless, AGNIR points out the limitations of
published research and concludes that:
“In aggregate the research published since
the IEGMP report does not give cause for concern. The weight of
evidence now available does not suggest that there are adverse
health effects from exposures to RF fields below guideline levels,
but the published research on RF exposures and health has limitations,
and mobile phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively
short time. The possibility therefore remains open that there
could be health effects from exposure to RF fields below guideline
levels; hence continued research is needed.”
Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) | 
