Safety
Of 'Hands-6.00' Kits Unsure
The Times
December 08, 2000
The
Government said today that it was unsure about the safety of mobile phone
hands-6.00 kits, an about-turn on its previous statements that they reduced
radiation exposure.
New
public information leaflets about mobile phone safety now say it is uncertain
whether hands-6.00 kits protect the user from radiation beamed into the head.
In
August Patricia Hewitt, the minister in charge of E-commerce, said she was
able to offer "unambiguous advice" that the kits reduced radiation
levels.
That
statement was based on research commissioned by the Government. But last month
the Consumers' Association said its own studies indicated that hands-6.00 kits
could increase the brain's exposure to radiation by up to three and a half
times.
Professor
Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England, confirmed the
Government line on hands-6.00 sets had changed.
Speaking
at the announcement of a new £7 million programme of mobile phone research,
Mr Donaldson said further research was necessary to determine whether or not
using hand sets reduces radiation exposure.
