The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), the peak industry body representing the mobile telecommunications industry, welcomes the opportunity to hear Dr Bernard Veyret, a Member of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), at next week’s SW2009 program to be held at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

ICNIRP is formally recognized as the non-governmental organization in non-ionizing radiation for the World Health Organization (WHO). ICNIRP has developed the international guidelines which form the basis of mobile phone and base station national safety standards.

ICNIRP’s international safety guidelines are based on a careful analysis of published scientific literature (including evidence for both thermal and non-thermal effects) and offer protection against all identified hazards of RF energy with large safety margins.

This year, ICNIRP has issued a statement which reinforces the validity of the present radiofrequency safety recommendations:

'...At this date the health risk assessment concerning radiofrequency fields by the World Health Organization is still underway. In view of establishing the validity of its current guidance in relation to RF exposure, ICNIRP is issuing this statement, which identifies the main scientific advancements relevant to that field. In conclusion, ICNIRP reconfirms its recommendations on radiofrequency for the moment.'

Mobile phone handsets and base stations are designed, built and tested to comply with strict science-based safety standards, which are recognised by national and international health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

The standards have a substantial in-built safety margin and provide protection for all users, including the elderly, children and others regardless of the frequency of use.

Australia has adopted the internationally-recognised safety guidelines developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) as well as undertaking its own risk assessment by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

On claims that children are more at risk from the use of mobile phones, Dr Paolo Vecchia, the Chairman of ICNIRP, has stated:

The protection system using basic restrictions and reference levels makes the ICNIRP guidelines flexible and applicable to virtually any exposure condition, and any group of population. Therefore, there is no need, or justification, for a special approach to the protection of children. (WHO Workshop - Sensitivity of Children to EMF Exposure: The approach of ICNIRP to protection of children.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said people could be confident that there was no established evidence that radiofrequency exposure within internationally accepted limits causing any adverse health effects.

Comprehensive reviews of more than 2500 research publications, including more htan 600 studies specifically on mobile phones and base stations, by governments and health authorities continue, without exception, to find no substantiated scientific evidence of health effects, he said.

“Our industry complies with strict science-based safety standards with substantial in-built safety margins that are recognised by international health agencies, including the WHO,” Mr Althaus said.

“However, if people are still concerned there are some simple practical steps they can take to reduce theirs of their children’s exposure.”

The steps are:

Use a hands-free kit or loudspeaker so the mobile is away from the head and body

Use text messages when practical

Limit the length or number of calls

For more information on standards see EMF Standards Explained on www.emfexplained.info

This site has been developed by AMTA in conjunction with two leading international industry associations, the GSM Association (GSMA) and the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF).

For registration details of SW2009 on November 17 see www.acrbr.org.au