Interphone, a 13-nation study and the biggest study undertaken of its kind into the potential health impacts of mobile phones, is scheduled for release early next week.

The study was co-ordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), and will add to the large body of existing research into health effects of radiofrequency emissions.

IARC has announced that its Interphone study will be released on Tuesday, May 18 (Australian time).

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said the mobile telecommunications industry will welcome the release of Interphone, which began in 2000.

“Our industry supports scientifically-rigorous research because it adds to the weight of scientific opinion and provides accurate science-based information that will assist people make informed choices about mobile technology and health,” he said.

“AMTA monitors, disseminates and, where possible, supports research on health and safety issues related to mobile telecommunications. AMTA relies on the expert judgment of public health authorities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), for assessments of safety and health impacts.”

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

“INTERPHONE, a large and important study, is one study in a long line of research into the subject of the health impacts of mobile phone use. All studies must be seen in the light of the total research effort and the World Health Organization’s health risk assessment process where the whole body of science is taken into account.

“No single study can be expected to provide an answer to a scientific question. Interphone and other studies should be viewed as a part of a total research effort.”

The primary objective of the INTERPHONE (INTERnational case control studies of cancer in relation to mobile telePHONE use) project is to determine whether the radio frequency (RF) emitted by mobile phones causes cancer, and whether mobile phone use increases the risk of cancer.

The INTERPHONE project consists of 13 studies designed as population-based, case-control studies, which concentrate on tumours most likely to be related to mobile phone use. While environmental and internal causes are also considered, the studies each focus on the following head and neck cancers:

• brain tumours (glioma and meningioma);
  
   
• tumours of the acoustic nerve (acoustic neuroma);
  
   
• tumours of the parotid gland (salivary gland situated at the base of each ear)

Further information on the can be found on IARC’s website http://www.iarc.fr/