Independent research

Based on wide-ranging scientific studies of the many potential health effects of mobile technology, the current scientific consensus is that mobile phones and mobile communication masts are not a threat to human health. Mobile telephony is subject to rigorous ongoing research.

Reviews from expert panels such as the Stewart Report (May 2000) continue to call for further independent research into areas of uncertainty and we help to fund and support new and relevant research that meet the following criteria:

• Independent of industry.
• Subject to peer-review.
• Good quality.
• Expertly conducted.
• Published in reputable journals.

Since the Stewart Report 2000, we have supported:

• The £7.4 million Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme, equally funded by the UK Government and the mobile industry over a seven-year period.
• An approximately £10.0 million Home Office study into Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), the technology used by O2 Airwave - our secure network for emergency services.   
• The German Government and joint industry research project (German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme), to which O2 contributed approximately €1.9 million between 2002 and 2005. 
• The Research Association of Radio Application, through O2 Germany, contributing around €130,000 annually.
• World Health Organization International EMF project to set priorities and a research database.

O2 only supports and/or funds scientific research that is structured to be independent of industry influence.

The first wave of MTHR research, involving 29 independent projects, is nearing completion. We expect results from all these to have been published by 2007.

The German research programme includes 51 independent projects. The results of 16 of these have already been published and most of the others will come to an end during 2006 and 2007.

During 2005/06 a number of countries published results of studies carried out under the INTERPHONE Study - International Case-Controlled Studies of Cancer in Relation to Mobile Telephone Use. The INTERPHONE studies examine data on phone use and cancer rates in large populations. It is a multi-country study of the origin and spread of head and neck tumours, independently coordinated by the International Agency for Research into Cancer (IARC).

Individual countries that have reported to date have concluded there was ‘no increased risk’ of tumors for regular phone users with less than 10 years use. They recommended more research into longer-term use. 

We expect a pooled report from all 13 countries involved in INTERPHONE in autumn 2006. Results will be collated by IARC to assess whether RF exposure from mobile telephones is associated with cancer risk. This assessment is due to be completed by summer 2007.

A ‘cohort’ study across Europe has been proposed as part of a second phase of MTHR research. This was expected to involve 250,000 people in five European countries – UK, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark – and use ‘actual’ phone usage data and billing reports to track mobile phone use over time against health for people who agreed to participate.

However, a study in Germany, carried out with O2’s support, did not get an adequate response rate from the public, so Germany’s Federal Radiation Protection Agency decided in October 2005 to withdraw from the proposed study.

O2 has agreed to help fund the second phase of the UK MTHR programme along with the other four UK mobile operators. During the year we budgeted £175,000 to fund the MTHR programmes. This covered our commitment under phase one and the first installment of phase-two funding, which will eventually total £500,000. 

However, due to a shortfall in other funding and a freeze by the UK Government on Department of Health project funding, we await a contractual commitment to this next phase.

O2 remains committed to the second MTHR programme and the Forschungsgemeinschaft.