Mobile tumour rumours refuse to die

Fears of the potential health hazards of mobile phones have resurfaced in the media this week, leaving consumers further confused about the real risks they face.

The Times ran a story on Monday stating that the big three mobile phone manufacturers, Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia have been developing and patenting devices to reduce the radiation emissions of phones for the past eight years.

The implication is that there is a cover-up going on - the major mobile phone companies know that phones emit dangerous radiation and they are hiding it from the public.

However, the revelations should surprise no-one. As Simon Buckingham, industry expert at Mobile Lifestreams puts it: "These companies are customer driven organisations, and if there is a perception of risk among the customers then they have a responsibility to respond to it, whether it is real or not.

"Any sound strategic management would be prepared for any eventuality. [Motorola, Ericsson and Nokia] would be incredibly stupid not to do this research," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Consumer Association said: "If they have done anything wrong, it's not being open. We think that any information should be put in the public domain, so that consumers can make their own choices about what risks they are exposed to."

Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia were unavailable for comment, but they always maintain that all the phones they sell on the UK market meet emission standards set by the relevant government bodies.

However, some or all of the radiation shield research may well be intended for next generation mobile phones, which produce higher radiation levels as a side effect to faster data transfer.

Monday also saw the publication of a Swedish survey linking an obscure form of benign brain tumour to the use of analogue mobile phones, which are now obsolete.

Studies have been appearing regularly for the past five years, some suggesting that mobiles do cause cancer and others suggesting they don't.

Last May, a report from an independent advisory panel chaired by Sir William Stewart indicated that there is no conclusive evidence of a risk to health from mobile phone use. However, it does suggest adopting a precautionary approach. Non-essential use of mobiles by young children should be particularly discouraged, it said.