AMTA takes all health and safety aspects of mobile telecommunications seriously and complies with strict safety standards set by independent experts from world health authorities, Chief Executive Officer, Chris Atlhaus, told The Age newspaper this week.

The Age reported on a study undertaken by the Environmental Working Group in the United States. It ranked mobile phone handsets on safety according to their specific absorption rate (SAR) rating.

The Group claimed that prolonged use of mobile phones was linked to brain tumours and other health issues.

Mr Althaus said all mobile phone handset models sold in Australia are tested and must comply with independent safety standards set and regulated by the Federal Government.

“Mobile phone handsets are designed, built and tested to comply with science-based safety standards, which are recognized by national and international health agencies, including the WHO, as providing protection for phone users,” he said.

“The Australian safety limit also includes a substantial safety margin to ensure mobile phones are safe.

“People can check their mobile phones to see the A-tick stamped on the phone (usually under the battery). The A-tick on phones indicates that they operate below the Australian safety limit when tested using the agreed test procedure.”

Mr Althaus said variations in SAR levels among mobile phone models did not mean there were differences in safety because all mobile phones must operate below international safety limits.

The SAR values reported for each model of mobile phone are maximum values and do not reflect typical exposure received in every-day use. This is because mobile phones automatically adjust to the minimum power level needed to successfully maintain a quality call. This automatic power reduction allows mobile phones to operate more efficiently to preserve battery life, increase talk time and reduce network interference.

Comparing SAR values is not like comparing, for example, energy efficiency stars on electrical appliances. A mobile phones maximum SAR is always below safety standards, but varies widely during everyday use, whereas the energy efficiency of electrical appliances is largely stable.

Mr Althaus said SAR information is provided by manufacturers for phones sold in Australia. Since October 2001 mobile phone manufacturers, who are members of the MMF, voluntarily report SAR values on company websites and in user manuals or in a leaflet inside the box.

You can check the SARs on this website: http://www.mmfai.org/public/sar.cfm?lang=eng This link is also found on our website: www.amta.org.au

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies conduct ongoing reviews into mobile phones, base stations and health and consider all of the available scientific research.

Specifically on mobile phones and health, the WHO currently says:

…overall evidence available to date does not suggest that the use of mobile phones has any detrimental effect on human health. (WHO What is EMF? p.3)

The long-term trends for brain cancer incidence also support the conclusions of the health experts about the unlikely risk of mobile phones and brain cancer.

According to the IARC World Cancer Report 2008, the incidence of brain tumours following widespread mobile phone use has remained relatively stable:

After 1983 and more recently during the period of increasing prevalence of mobile phone users, the incidence has remained relatively stable for both men and women. (IARC World Cancer Report 2008 p.461)

The International safety guidelines for mobile phones are designed to protect people of all ages – including children – and incorporate large safety factors. However, recognising that some parents may be concerned about children’s mobile phone usage, the WHO advises the following:

Present scientific evidence does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the use of mobile phones. If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their own or their children’s RF exposure by limiting the length of calls, or by using ‘hands-free’ devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body.

The Age online has published an article about the EWG SAR list: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/how-safe-is-your-mobile-phone-20091001-gdw7.html