1. Are mobile phones health hazards?

2. How do mobile phones work?
They use: a) Microwaves
b) Magnetic fields

3. Microwaves Are high frequency radio waves
Lie between infrared and conventional radio waves
Range in wave length from about 1 mm to 30 cm

4. How can they harm us? Microwaves cause heating
This in turn can cause cellular damage

5. Magnetic fields Arise from surges of electricity from the battery
These are of low frequency

6. How can they harm us? Known to cause cellular mutation
Possibly blood cancer (Leukaemia)

7. What illnesses might be linked with mobile phones?
Headaches
Sleep disruption
Impairment of short term memory
Infertility
Brain tumours

8. Headaches An increase in permeability of the blood brain barrier
Effects the transmitter in the brain. Eg. Dopamine
Both are medically connected to headaches

9. Sleep Disruption Changes in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep
Change in melatonin levels

10. Short term memory loss
Microwave radiation to the head can target the hippocampus.
Responsible for impairment of short term memory

11. Infertility
Testicular temperature is 2 degrees below normal body temperature.
Microwaves cause rise in temperature.
Phones in trouser pockets can cause testicular temperature to rise.
This interferes with sperm production

12. Brain Tumours
Mobile phone users show a factorial increase of 2 to 3 in incidence of a rare tumour : according to a small study
This occurs on the side of the brain nearest to the phone

13. Opinion 1
“Those using their mobile phone on the right side of their head, the risk of getting a tumour increased by two and a half times on that respective side.”
-The view of a former BT engineer

14. Opinion 2
“…..could be something more here than what meets the eye. The science ….today……. suggests that there could be a problem that needs to be looked at very carefully.”
- Dr. Carlo commenting on a rare tumour found in mobile phone users

15. Opinion 3
“…..until we have a definite conclusion, and results of much larger studies, we need to minimise exposure to human beings.”
- View of Dr. Lennart Hardell (Sweden)

16. Experiments
These harmful effects have been shown in labs and experiments on cells/animals.
The exposure levels were much higher

17. In Humans:
So far no clinical evidence exists to prove that mobile phones are harmful
- Bandolier 2001

18. Hence long term studies with larger population groups are needed for accurate proof of safety

19. Conclusion So far no evidence exists of harm in humans
Until larger studies are conducted best, to use it sparingly.

20. Evidence does exist that:
Talking and driving don’t go together !