29 June 2000

Renewed call for cell phone health warnings

Green MP Sue Kedgley today renewed her call for the Government to look at bringing in health warnings on cell phones, following new World Health Organisation recommendations to limit cell phone use.

The WHO has recommended cell phone users limit their own and children's exposure to radio frequency fields by limiting the length of calls on mobile phones or by using "hands free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body.

Ms Kedgley said the WHO recommendation strengthens the case for health warnings on cell phones here - similar to those recommended for use in England by a British Government report last month.

"WHO expect that current research into the possible health effects of using cell phones will not be completed until 2003, but recent findings suggest that cell phones may cause changes in brain activity, reaction times and sleep patterns.

"Until that research has been completed, we need to take a precautionary approach. Health warnings about where, and for how long, cell phones should be used would emphasize to users that we don't know enough about what the potential health impacts of heavy cell phone use will be, and in the meantime users should be prudent," she said.

Sue Kedgley MP: 04 470 6728 or 025 270 9088 Gina Dempster, Press secretary: 04 470 6723 or 021 1265 289

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