I Wouldn't Want My Grandchildren Using A Mobile, Says British Expert
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday May 12, 2000
The use of mobile phones by children should be curbed because of potential health risks, the chief of a British inquiry into the safety of the phones warned last night.
Sir William Stewart, of Scotland's Tayside University, said he would continue to use a mobile but would not recommend that his grandchildren do so.
Although there is no hard scientific evidence that mobile phones are a health risk, the report, commissioned by the British Government, will make it clear that developing brains would be especially vulnerable.
Children's skulls are thinner, allowing their brains to absorb more radiation from the phones.
The committee is also expected to call for labels on phones detailing the amount radiation they emit, and tighter controls over the placing of mobile phone masts.
``In line with our precautionary approach at this time we believe the widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged," Sir William told the BBC ahead of the report's release today.
His comments come less than 48 hours after the Federal Government announced in the Budget that it expects to make $2.8 billion from the sale of mobile phone spectrum to telecommunications companies vigorously marketing their products to teenagers.
But Australia's mobile phone industry says there is no need for limits on use by the young, arguing that there is no evidence of health effects on adults or children.
The executive director of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, Mr Peter Russell, said tests had shown no difference in the rates by which adults and children absorbed energy from the phones.
And the size of that energy was very small, he said. ``We are talking about the equivalent of two AA torch batteries."
But the head of the Senate inquiry into electromagnetic emissions, Senator Lyn Allison (Dem), said: ``If you look at the way the head absorbs electromagnetic radiation, anyone will tell you a child's head absorbs much more than an adult and if you couple that with the fact that brains are developing more quickly, there are real concerns ...
``I would certainly not let children or adolescents use them."
Mr Russell said there were no figures available on how many of Australia's 8 million mobile phone users are children or teenagers.
An independent industry analyst, Mr Paul Budde, said one-third of people aged six to 24 owned a mobile, but most used them to receive calls.
The managing director of Australia Telecommunications User Group, Mr Allan Horsley, said mobile phone companies were deliberately targeting youth.
``They have really gone out after the young people with pre-pay cards and coloured hand- sets," he said.
Mrs Rochelle Jenkins, dean of the middle school at Abbotsleigh, said about 70 per cent of students in Years 7 to 12 owned or had regular access to mobiles.
Sarah Jenkins, 13, a Year 8 student, said most of her friends owned mobiles and used them on average four times a week for about 30 seconds.
Most of her friends weren't concerned about the possible side effects. ``People who do tend to keep their phone calls shorter."
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald
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