New Australian research on mobile phone safety
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants, totalling more than half a million dollars, will help Australia cement its position at the forefront of research into the health effects of mobile phones.
The studies—to be conducted at the Swinburne University of Technology in Victoria and Westmead Hospital in NSW—will address how a user’s performance is affected by radiation similar to that from mobiles, and how long-term use of the phones may affect the sight and hearing of users.
Federal Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge describes the new projects as ‘relevant and credible studies of international excellence’ and said Australia is already internationally recognised for research into whether mobile phone usage increases the risk of cancer. ‘The latest round of funding is being used to target research gaps identified through previous studies, in order to address public health concerns,’ Dr Wooldridge said.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association said in July 2000 that there were more than 8.5 million mobile phone connections in Australia. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1.6 billion people worldwide will be using mobile phones by 2005.
WHO acknowledges that more research is required to assess the health risks associated with mobile phones, and that any adverse health effects, no matter how small, could have major implications for public health around the world, due to the large numbers of users.
The health risks of mobile phones may also be more immediate. According to a recent editorial in the 13 May 2000 edition of the British Medical Journal, the risk of an accident when using a mobile phone while driving—even with a hands-free device— is equivalent to that of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 per cent. The implication is that the conversation on the mobile phone distracts the driver.
Last Reviewed: 09 March 2001
