| PA/GEL
No: 31360 - Frequently Asked Questions |
1. What exactly are the emissions from mobile phone masts?
2. Do radio base stations present a threat to health? How are we protected?
3. But isn’t the link between health risks and these masts already scientifically proven?
4. Are you sure there is no effect from this low level of radio frequency over a prolonged period, say 20-30 years?
5. There are reports of people getting headaches, suffering short-term memory loss and even vomiting. Is this not evidence of adverse effects?
6. Are certain people, such as children and pregnant women, more vulnerable to the effects of masts?
7. Can you guarantee that my child is safe to play near this mast?
8. What research is Vodafone conducting/funding?
9. If they are safe, why have some local councils banned these masts from their land and property?
10. Are these masts the next tobacco or BSE public health scare?
11. Who sets the emissions guidelines to which you adhere?
12. Do the ICNIRP safety guidelines consider athermal or non-themal effects?
13. How does the mobile phone industry get away with putting up so many masts without getting proper planning permission?
14. Why is the public never consulted before masts are erected?
15. Why can a smaller mast not be installed?
16. Will this mast interfere with my computer, radio or TV?
17. Is it true that base stations can affect medical devices such as heart pacemakers?
18. Where can I get some objective information?
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1. What exactly are the emissions from mobile phone masts?
Mobile phone masts and the associated cabins are properly called radio base stations. Not every installation is a mast. Operators also use existing structures. buildings or pylons for example. Radio base stations (and handsets) utilise electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to transfer information and make mobile communications possible. These EMFs form part of what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectrum ranges from low frequency (such as electric power transmission), through radio frequency (used for mobile communications) and visible light, and on to the high frequency forms such as ultraviolet, x-rays and cosmic rays. It is important not to confuse mobile communications with the ionising radiation such as x-rays and nuclear decay. There is simply not enough energy in radio base station signals to alter biological structures. Electromagnetic fields occur naturally – in sunlight, lightning and the earth’s magnetic field - and they are used for television and radio transmission, by the police, fire and
ambulance services, by taxi firms and public utilities. They are also produced by any household appliance that uses an electrical current from the kitchen fridge to a hairdryer. Top
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2. Do radio base stations present a threat to health? How are we protected?
There has been extensive research into the effects of EMF on human health and the general consensus of the scientific community is that there is no proven adverse health effect if guidelines are complied with. The World Health Organisation has said that, :"Despite extensive research. to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health." [Source: What are Electromagnetic Fields, 2003] The guidelines referred to have been set as a part of a precautionary approach to public health. In 1999, Vodafone, as an international company, took the decision to comply with the stringent European Union guidelines based on the recommendation of the International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection, and all our installations are designed to comply. These guidelines were later recommended by Professor Stewart in his report “Mobile Phones and Health” (the Stewart report), and subsequently by the UK Government. In addition to this, Vodafone adheres strictly to the UK Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) which stipulates that a company has a duty of care to ensure the safety of both its employees and the public. Vodafone treats the safety of all individuals very seriously and, based on the scientific evidence available, firmly believes that base stations do not present a threat to human health in areas where the public has access.
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3. But isn’t the link between health risks and these masts already scientifically proven?
The balance of scientific opinion is that there is no substantiated link to adverse health effects provided the guidelines are complied with. However, in the interests of all concerned further research is being conducted. It would be complacent to assume that there is nothing new to learn about electromagnetic fields and Vodafone therefore supports and encourages continued research that will ensure that the precautions it takes continue to be effective. Vodafone is contributing to a £7 million independent research project in this area.
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4. Are you sure there is no effect from this low level of radio frequency over a prolonged period, say 20-30 years?
There has been global research into wireless technology since radio transmissions began in the 1930s. Worldwide, there has been some $100m spent on research and over many thousands of scientific studies have been conducted. As a result of this, the general scientific consensus is that EMFs do not pose a risk to health in the short or long term. However, Vodafone is aware of public concern about health risks and because of this is committed to supporting ongoing research so that it can continue to be confident that its radio base stations do not pose a risk to human health provided the guidelines are complied with.
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5. There are reports of people getting headaches, suffering short-term memory loss and even vomiting. Is this not evidence of adverse
effects?
It has not been proven that any of these health problems are linked to EMFs especially at the low levels from radio base stations. Vodafone bases its safety precautions on the findings of the widespread research that has been carried out and there is no proof that base stations present a health risk or cause any of these symptoms.
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| 6.
Are certain people, such as children and pregnant women, more vulnerable to the effects of masts?
There is no substantiated evidence of this whatsoever. Firstly, there are no scientifically proven adverse effects on health and, secondly, the ICNIRP guidelines, with which all our base stations comply, are designed to protect everyone - this includes pregnant women and children.
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7. Can you guarantee that my child is safe to play near this mast?
Science has not found a link to adverse health effects and all our operations are in line with the established guidelines. Typical EMF strengths in the vicinity of Vodafone radio base stations are hundreds or thousands of times lower than the precautionary guidelines and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that it does not consider them to pose a health risk.
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| 8. What research is Vodafone conducting/funding?
Vodafone supports well-focused independent research both in theory and in practice. With the Government and other network operators, we are funding a £7 million research project in response to the recommendations of the Stewart Enquiry.
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9. If they are safe, why have some local councils banned these masts from their land and
property?
This is a question that only the councils in question are able to answer. However, it may be that their decisions have been prompted by considerations other than the scientific evidence available such as social and political reasons. The Government has stated clearly to local authorities that if a radio base station complies with ICNIRP guidelines, they need consider health issues no further.
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| 10. Are these masts the next tobacco or BSE public health scare?
This issue is very different to both tobacco and BSE. Firstly, the health risks of BSE and tobacco are scientifically proven and pretty much universally accepted. The scientific consensus on radio base stations - and there has been much research - is that they present no substantiated risk whatsoever to human health. Vodafone is a responsible operator and is committed to providing the public and all interested groups with accurate information on the subject. We have publicly stated that if there are any significant developments in the future, we will keep our customers, staff and the public informed. There are no parallels between radio base stations and BSE or tobacco.
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| 11.
Who sets the emissions guidelines to which you adhere?
The International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection. You can visit their website at www.icnirp.de
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| 12. Do the ICNIRP safety guidelines consider athermal or non-themal effects?
The World Health Organisation (Fact Sheet 193) states: “The guidelines developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) are based on a careful analysis of all scientific literature (both thermal and non-thermal effects) and offer protection against all identified hazards of RF energy with large safety margins.”
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| 13. How does the mobile phone industry get away with putting up so many masts without getting proper planning permission?
By law, every Vodafone installation has to comply with the relevant planning legislation before it can be built. When planning new sites, we have a policy of seeking to minimise the impact on the environment. Without exception, planning controls are never bypassed.
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| 14. Why is the public never consulted before masts are erected?
Vodafone is aware of public concerns about possible health effects and the visual impact of base stations, and because of this gives careful consideration to the selection of all its sites. Once a site has been identified, the company has to submit a notification to the local authority planners and this provides an opportunity for members of the public to express any concerns they might have. Vodafone is happy to meet with people to discuss any concerns they may have and, if our preferred site is near a school for example, we will let them know about our plans in advance
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| 15. Why can a smaller mast not be installed?
We always try to make our base stations as inconspicuous as possible and blend them in with the environment. Where we can, we will share a site with another operator or mount antennas on existing structures to avoid building a new mast or pole, but this is not always possible. They have to meet certain technical requirements to function effectively and so in some cases the building of a new structure is unavoidable. There are also minimum height requirements to serve an area effectively. However, the visual impact of our masts is something we are very aware of and do all we can to minimise
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| 16. Will this mast interfere with my computer, radio or TV?
A European Commission directive (89/336/EEC) governs all forms of electronic equipment both in terms of what interference such equipment produces and what it can tolerate. Vodafone radio transmission should not interfere with TVs, radios, personal computers or computer networks that are compliant with that directive.
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| 17. Is it true that base stations can affect medical devices such as heart pacemakers?
At ground level and in adjacent buildings, signal levels from radio base stations are too low to interfere with such devices. An American report has investigated this matter and concluded: “There is no evidence that base station antennas will interfere with cardiac pacemakers or other implanted medical devices as long as exposure levels are within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for uncontrolled (public)
exposure. ”(Cellular Phone Antennas and Human Health by John E Moulder, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin February 2003) In the UK Vodafone’s installations are designed to comply with EU standards, which are more stringent than those of ANSI. Therefore the quote above is equally, if not even more, relevant in this country. More information is available from the Medical Devices Agency on 0207 9728271 Top
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| 18. Where can I get some objective information?
Independent information is available from: The National Radiological Protection Board
(NRPB) www.nrpb.org.uk
The World Health Organisation (WHO) EMF Project
www.who.int/peh-emf
International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP) www.icnirp.de.
For information about planning procedures for radio base stations, enquirers should contact the planning officer at their local authority
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