Orange Romania

mobile telephony and health

mobile telephony and health

Are there any effects on health?

Mobile telephony is being used extensively, which is why we believe it's our responsibility as an operator to know what its effects on human health are and to monitor all studies in this regard. We would never want to endanger public health or the health of our employees, which is why we’re constantly concerned with this issue.

The main biological effect registered in the frequency band used by mobile telephony is a warming of the body. The human body is capable of controlling its temperature through thermoregulation, up to a certain level of the electromagnetic field. In 1998, the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) established a maximum level of exposure to electromagnetic fields. As a result, it was decided that the limit should be 50 times lower than the level at which experimental findings showed the body might be affected. The ICNIRP’s decisions form the basis of the European Commission’s Recommendation 519/1999, which was subsequently adopted into law in Romania. Usually, the level of the electromagnetic field generated by the mobile telephony system is much lower than the legal maximum.

Research in this field continues, with other potential biological effects being investigated, though at this time the World Health Organisation believes no convincing scientific evidence exists to prove that the weak emissions owed to base stations cause adverse effects to human health (see Report 304/May 2006 - http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html).

The main biological effect registered in the frequency band used by mobile telephony is a warming of the body. The same principle is used by the microwave oven, which many of us use every day. The main difference, however, consists of the fact that the oven works at power levels of between 300 and 900 W, while the power emitted by the mobile will not exceed 0.125 - 0.25 W, usually less. During a phone call, the body will warm by less than 0.1º C, which is less than the warming caused by sunlight exposure, fever or physical exercise.

The level of the electromagnetic field generated by the mobile telephony system reaches the maximum allowable level only within an area of up to 3 m in front of the aerial, 1 m to the side and 0.5 m behind and below it, making up an area known as the exclusion zone. At a distance of 8 m in front of the aerial, the level is less than 16% of the legal limit, ie 6 times lower. Behind and to the sides the level is much lower, even less than 1%.

In the following, we've marked the exclusion zone around a typical mobile telephony base station in red.

mobile telephony and health
mobile telephony and health
mobile telephony and health
The research continues, with other potential biological effects being investigated. Over 1,700 studies had been published by October 2005, evaluating the biological effects of radiofrequency waves, of which over 400 were dedicated to the frequencies used by mobile telephony systems. Over the past ten years, over 200 million euros have been allocated to research in this field. Potential effects have been investigated on the cardiovascular, immune, auditory, hormonal systems and on cognitive functions. However, the best-researched area is probably the potential link between electromagnetic fields and cancer.

There are several types of studies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. There exist two main categories of epidemiological study, which look at the statistical incidence and distribution of various diseases, trying to identify potential risk factors, and experimental laboratory studies.

Research is a complex process, with procedures in place to guarantee the scientific rigour required in such an important field as human health. If a study reveals a biological effect, it doesn't automatically mean a risk to health exists. The study must be published in an influential scientific journal, which uses a review committee made up of other researchers who evaluate the methodology used and the rigour of the experiments. If a biological effect has been noted, the study will be replicated by another, independent scientific group. This process is required in order to eliminate potential uncontrollable parameters which might have influenced the conclusions of the first study. And even if, after replication, the biological effect registered is confirmed, this still doesn't necessarily mean that a danger to health exists, as further evaluation is required. The diagram below illustrates the process just described.

mobile telephony and health

Unfortunately, however, study results are published in the press even before they are validated by the scientific community. Consequently, public opinion registers a sense of concern. Objective and safe answers can only be obtained by following scientific procedure.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the highest international scientific authority in the field of health. In 1996, it launched the EMF Project, which periodically organises conferences and publishes reports on various aspects of the relationship between electromagnetic fields and health, with directions for further research also being outlined.

Following an evaluation of all scientific studies carried out thus far, the World Health Organisation believes there is no convincing scientific evidence leading to the conclusion that the weak emissions caused by mobile telephony base stations affect human health negatively. (see Report 304/May 2006 – Base stations and wireless networks http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html).

There are also other international and national organisations that cater for this subject. The International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) didn’t end its mission when it set the maximum allowable limits. Its experts continue to monitor the scientific knowledge in this field and collaborate with the World Health Organisation. You can find more details by visiting www.icnirp.de.

There are also various other commissions and national institutes that cater for this field and publish periodical reports: