Health impact of 3G masts under scrutiny

A new study has been launched to investigate the effect of mobile phone mast emissions on human health.

The Electromagnetics and Health (EMH) laboratory at the University of Essex will test the impact of exposure to electromagnetic signals from conventional mobile phone base stations and the new 3G masts.

The research team at the university has already surveyed 20,000 people in Essex and Suffolk to find out how many claim to have been affected by mobile phone masts. A further 132 electromagnetic hypersensitivity sufferers will now take part in the lab experiments, along with 132 control participants.

The lab is part of a £328,000 two-year research project, led by the psychology department at the university and funded by the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme.

Professor Elaine Fox from the University of Essex, said in a statement: "Mobile phone technology and usage continues to develop, and it is vital that research into potential health risks keeps pace. Our new laboratory at Essex is equipped to play an important role in understanding the effects of the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile-phone base stations on human health."

The MTHR programme was set up in 2001 with £7.4m of government funding following the Stewart Report on mobile phones and health.

Professor Lawrie Challis, chairman of the MTHR programme management committee said the new study will help provide an independent assessment of recent research from the Netherlands claiming emissions from 3G masts have an adverse effect on health.

"As the use of mobile phones continues to increase, we need good science to address the questions about possible effects on health."