Appendix A

Warnings about Mobile Phones

Here’s a handy guide to just some of the many authorities who have recommended that people reduce their exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

The Academy supported congressman Dennis Kucinich’s ‘Cell Phone Right to Know Act’ aimed at investigating the effects of wireless radiation and labelling mobile phones.

ASSOCIATION FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION (ROMANIA)

The Association released a series of guidelines for reducing people’s exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

ATHENS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

The Association published ‘16 Rules for Safer Use of Wireless Communication’, including limiting children’s use of mobile phones.

AUSTRALIAN RADIATION PROTECTION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY AGENCY

Australia’s radiation authority recommended that parents encourage their children to limit their exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

AUSTRIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

The Association advised limiting mobile-phone use in children under the age of 16 and suggested methods of reducing exposure.

BELGIUM

The Belgian government banned the sale of phones designed for children, banned the advertising of phones to children, and required a warning label to be applied to all phones sold in the country.

BERKELEY, USA

The City of Berkeley passed ‘right to know’ legislation that required all mobile phones to be sold with this notice: ‘If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is ON and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation.’

CANCER ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Association recommended minimal use of mobile phones and provided tips for reducing exposure.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The Council of Europe recommended that member states ‘take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours’.

DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION (UNITED KINGDOM)

The UK Department of Health issued a statement that children are likely to be more at risk from mobile-phone radiation than adults. Following this, the Department of Education sent a letter to all schools advising children to limit their mobile-phone use.

DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS (INDIA)

The Department announced that it would require mobile-phone retailers to provide customers with a book with information about how to use mobile phones safely.

FRANCE

The French government introduced bans on the sale of mobile phones to children aged less than six and the advertising of mobile phones to children under 12. It also legislated for an education campaign to inform people how to use mobile devices in a ‘responsible and rational’ way.

GERMAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

The Academy discouraged ‘unnecessary, frequent, and extended’ mobile-phone use and said children rarely need to use mobiles.

HEALTH CANADA

Health Canada issued tips for reducing exposure to mobile-phone radiation, and encouraged children under the age of 18 to limit their use of mobiles.

ISRAEL

The Israeli government requires warning labels with all mobile phones sold, advising that carrying a phone next to the body may increase the risk of cancer, especially for children. It also banned the advertising of mobile phones to children.

ITALIAN SOCIETY OF PREVENTATIVE AND SOCIAL PEDIATRICS

Italian paediatricians called for a ban on the use of mobile phones by children under ten years of age.

JAPAN FEDERATION OF BAR ASSOCIATIONS

This group, which represents Japan’s 40,000 lawyers, recommended the government take action to limit people’s exposure to wireless radiation.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH (TURKEY)

The Ministry recommended that children and pregnant women reduce exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

NATIONAL RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION BOARD (UNITED KINGDOM)

Britain’s radiation authority (now called Public Health England) recognised that children could be more vulnerable to mobile-phone radiation.

PHYSICIANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (SWITZERLAND)

These Swiss doctors recommended precautions for mobile phone use.

PITTSBURGH CANCER INSTITUTE (USA)

The Institute issued advice about how to reduce exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

RUSSIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON NON-IONIZING RADIATION PROTECTION

Russia’s radiation authority warned that mobile-phone use could be as harmful to children as tobacco or alcohol.

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

The City of San Francisco passed legislation to require all mobile phones to be sold with labels warning of the risks of wireless radiation. However, this ordinance was eventually defeated in court by the mobile-phone industry.

SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH SPOKESPERSON

Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, former physician, prime minister of Norway, international leader in public health, and director-general of the World Health Organization, encouraged children not to use mobile phones.

TORONTO CITY COUNCIL (CANADA)

Toronto City Council produced a fact sheet with tips about how to reduce exposure to mobile-phone radiation.

WALES

The Welsh government produced leaflets for teens, recommending a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phones.