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"It's an uncomfortable issue, but the mobile companies are going to have to tackle the way phones are used while driving." Nicola Thunhurst, External Affairs Manager, RAC, United Kingdom |
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Research | How it works | Safety limits | Information sources | Distraction driving | RSI Fears about the safety of our transmission masts and handsets and the radio frequencies that they emit are undoubtedly among the chief concerns people have about our operations. The health and safety of our staff, our customers and members of the public is of paramount concern to us. We take precautions to ensure that the equipment we use and supply does not exceed international safety limits. But while such fears exist, we take them extremely seriously. We are determined to provide clear information about how our technology, which operates well within current internationally accepted safety standards, works. A considerable amount of research is being done in this field and a range of independent international agencies devise the safety guidelines that we operate within based on this scientific research. These include the UK's National Radiological Protection Board, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the European Commission. The World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains a database of research into electromagnetic fields which currently includes 764 studies on radio frequency, of which nearly half are directly concerned with exposure to signals from mobile phones. The European Commission uses this database to direct its own research through a variety of EU programmes. |
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Independent research The consensus of opinion among independent scientists is that mobile communications masts and mobile phones do not pose a threat to human health. But many studies have concluded that more research needs to be done. The WHO has itself said: "None of the recent reviews have concluded that exposure to RF fields from mobile phones or their base stations causes any adverse health consequences. However, there are gaps in knowledge that have been identified for further research to better assess health risks."* We fully support calls for further research, believing it is vital that this issue is subject to rigorous and up-to-date research and analysis. We are co-operating with and, in some cases, helping to fund a number of important studies. Amongst these is the £7 million Mobile Telecommunications and Health research programme jointly funded by the UK Government and industry and set up on the recommendation of the Stewart enquiry in 2000. Apart from receiving this funding, the programme is being run entirely independently of the industry. It is looking into a range of issues including biology, epidemiology and dosimetry as they apply to both current and future mobile systems. It is also studying risk perception and communication. We are participating in a number of research initiatives in Germany including the Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk project involving industry, universities, manufacturers and government. We have committed with other operators to contribute to a separate government research initiative managed by the Federal Agency for Radiation Protection. We do not carry out any research ourselves but we continually monitor international research and other issues in this field. We have set strict criteria for supporting research in this field. It must be:
* WHO briefing fact sheet 193: Electromagnetic fields and public health, mobile telephones and their base stations. |
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How it works It is just 17 years since mobile phones first became generally available. Use of them has grown rapidly to the point that, in many developed markets, a high percentage of people now have a mobile phone. In Western Europe there are around 311 million users**, including more than 50 million in the UK**, almost 60 million in Germany** and 3 million in Ireland**. Increasingly mobile telecommunications is transforming the way we communicate at home and in the workplace and new more advanced applications are making it possible to send and receive faxes and emails and to gain access to a whole range of internet services. Mobile phones work by converting voice, text or multi-media messages into radio waves or radio frequencies (RF). Mobile base stations - often but not always distinguished by tall masts fitted with antennae - enable these calls to be transmitted to mobile phones and for callers to be connected to other phones and other networks. These networks are divided into thousands of so called cells. Each cell has its own base station. The area covered and the number of calls and callers within it determines the size of each cell. When a caller is on the move, the call is handed from one cell to the next. If there are not enough base stations in a particular area or if the signal is interrupted, a call will be "dropped". Antennae have to be positioned high up on masts because radio waves travel in an approximate straight line and can be interrupted or deflected by buildings and terrain. It is only the antenna that transmits the radio frequencies. The masts themselves do not. Antennae vary in size and may not always be mounted on masts. Lower powered "microcells" may be fixed to the side of buildings in urban areas. Very low power "picocells" are often positioned in busy and crowded areas. Radio waves are an every day part of modern life. They are what TV and radio stations emit as well as mobile phones. RF is a form of non-ionising radiation and is not radioactive. It is not the same as the sort of radiation associated with X-rays or gamma-rays and its effect on humans is entirely different. Unlike these forms of radiation, RF is too weak to break the bonds that hold the molecules in cells together. But at high powers, RF can cause heating so their strength is strictly controlled. Current mobile systems operate in a range around 900MHz and 1800MHz but in the future more advanced equipment will operate up to frequencies of 2100MHz. ** Source: Mobile Data Association (2003) |
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Safety limits Our transmitters and handsets operate well within safety guidelines set by ICNIRP. Mobile phone networks are designed so that the phone is, in most cases, operating at less than its maximum power. The closer a caller is to a base station, the lower the power a phone will operate at. The safety limit for mobile phones is called the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which is the unit of measurement for the amount of RF energy absorbed by the body when using a mobile phone. While operating, the actual SAR level of the phone can be well below the highest power. All handsets sold by O2 operate well below safety guidelines and we now make a policy of including clear information on the SAR in the instructions for all new phones coming on to the market. Although few people enquire about the SAR of the phone they are buying, we have worked closely with manufacturers to make this information clearer and more widely available. Measurements carried out by the NRPB and the Radiocommunications Agency have confirmed that exposure levels from our base stations are many hundreds and even thousands of times below safety limits where the general public has access. We strive to operate our network at low power levels where practical, something that key stakeholders, including the independent action group, Powerwatch, has commended us for in consultations carried out for this report. In the field, our masts are carefully cordoned off to protect the equipment and clear safety signs are posted to warn members of the public not to get close to the antennae. These signs have recently been reviewed through an industry initiative and are being updated for use on all new base stations and cell sites. On rooftops antennae will, wherever possible, be positioned carefully, often on the edge of the building or cordoned off and sign-posted so that no one can inadvertently stand or walk in front of the antenna. When maintenance work is carried out at any of our sites, strict safety procedures should be followed. This will often involve turning the antenna off while the work is done. We are involved in a number of industry groups all of which aim to improve the level of information available to the public on the safety of phones and masts or that are looking at ways to make our approach to the siting of masts more responsible and accountable. Details of the Ten Commitments on responsible mast siting - a code drawn up by the UK Mobile Operators Association that we endorse and abide by - is included in the Environment and sustainability section of this report. |
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Information sources For all mmO2 mobile technologies there are a number of places where independent information on the effects of radio frequency radiation can be obtained. These include: The World Health Organisation www.who.int/peh-emf National Radiological Protection Board www.nrpb.org.uk Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones www.iegmp.org.uk Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en Radiocommunications Agency www.radio.gov.uk International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) www.icnirp.de European Union http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_determinants/environment/EMF/emf_en.htm Powerwatch www.powerwatch.org.uk Mast Action UK www.mastaction.co.uk Detailed information on the location of base stations in the UK can be found on www.radio.gov.uk (base stations, site finder). |
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Distraction driving Another health related issue that worries many stakeholders is the use of mobile phones while driving, particularly the use of hand held devices. We have carried out external campaigns in the Isle of Man to advise drivers on the safe use of their phones. We have also produced leaflets on the topic, which are available through the downloads section of this website. The issue of distraction driving is covered in the Understanding your opinions section of this report. Our web site includes tips on distraction driving as well as other aspects of phone etiquette. |
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Repetitive strain injury The popularity of text messaging has continued to grow with around 1.7 billion** text messages being sent each month in the UK (March 2003). However there has been some concern that too much texting or game playing on mobile phones may have possible health impacts such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or similar conditions and may affect the eyesight. mmO2 takes these concerns seriously and is therefore developing advice for users. There are already special features in handsets, such as message templates and predictive text, which minimise the number of buttons that have to be pressed and can help to reduce any possible health impacts. Information on these features, where they are available on a particular phone, can be found in the user guide that comes with every new phone. We will continue to apply strict criteria to the research we support into the safety of mobile phones, insisting it is rigorous and independent. |
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Breathing easy What mobile can do >> |
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