Mobile phone health fears gather strength

The latest research into the effect mobile phones have on the human brain has failed to dampen fears hat handsets cause various illnesses, including cancer.

A study by the UK's National Physical Laboratory for the BBC's Panorama programme found that the most popular phones on the market emit a range of radiation levels. The highest was the Nokia 2110, which was found to emit 0.44SARs (watts of radiation energy per kg of brain matter).

However, all are well within the UK safety limit.

Blasting the latest findings, Leslie Wilson, director of phone safety company Microshield, said: "The phones are within the safety levels, but the levels are all set too high. We're involved in the biggest experiment in the world that's not being conducted in a laboratory."

The latest quarterly figures from the UK's four network operators showed one out of four of the population now owns a mobile phone, a figure likely to rise to about 50 per cent over the next four years. Similar growth rates are forecast across Europe.

The Federation of the Electronics Industry, which speaks for manufacturers and operators on this matter, maintained there is still insufficient evidence to question the use of mobile phones.

Additional research just published by Swedish and US scientists has pointed to the need for further investigations.

Microshield's Wilson added: "The bottom line is that we need independent research. Some scientists being funded by manufacturers are having their money taken away when they come up with the wrong results."