Mobile phones operate under strict science-based safety guidelines that are designed to protect people of all ages, including children.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), the peak body representing the mobile telecommunications industry, relies on the expert opinion of international health agencies for an overall assessment of health and safety issues.

AMTA was responding to today’s article on the front page of the Canberra Times newspaper, which says new laws in France will be introduced to prohibit advertising of mobile phones to children under 12 because of alleged safety concerns.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which developed the safety standards to protect all mobile phone users, say there is no need or justification for a special approach to the protection of children.

The WHO advice says:

“Present scientific information does not support the need for special precautions for use of mobile phones.”

The Chairman of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection says:

“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.”

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority (ARPANSA), the Federal Government body which based our radiation protection standard on ICNIRP and WHO, said on children and mobile phones:

“Community concern has been expressed with regard to mobile telephone use by children. At present, there is insufficient evidence in the science to substantiate the hypothesis that children maybe more vulnerable to RF EME emissions from mobile phones than adults.

It’s recognised that parents provide mobile phones to their children for different reasons, including their child’s personal security as well as the assurance of their child being constantly contactable. It is recommended that if individuals are concerned, they should choose to limit their own or their children’s RF EME exposure by limiting the number and length of calls, or using "hands-free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body. Users should pay attention to manufacturers’ advice regarding spacing from the body if phones are to be attached to belts or placed in pockets.”

ARPANSA Fact Sheet – Mobile Phones & Children (2008)

Mr Althaus said there is no substantiated scientific evidence of any health risk from mobile phone use, including children. The Australian and international safety standards are designed to protect all members of the community, including children, regardless of the frequency of use.

“Mobile phones operate well below internationally-recognised safety guidelines and health authorities, such as the WHO, consider these strict science-based safety limits provide ample protection for all mobile phone users,” he said.

“People can be confident that there is no established evidence that radio frequency exposure within internationally accepted limits causes any adverse health effects.

“The Australian safety standard is based on international safety guidelines, which are endorsed by the WHO. They are based on careful analysis of all scientific literature and offer protection for users and the public against RF energy with large safety margins.

“All mobile phones sold in Australia adhere to strict scientific standards, they have substantial in-built safety margins and carry the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s ‘A’ Tick that shows the phone operates within Australian safety standards.”

Mr Althaus the mobile phone industry takes all questions regarding the safety of mobile phones seriously. AMTA supports focused, ongoing quality scientific research that will assist health authorities to assess the health impact of mobile phone technologies. He said if parents were concerned about their children’s use of mobile phones, the WHO advises:

“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.”

For more information on health issues and electromagnetic fields see www.emfexplained.info, which was developed by AMTA in conjunction with the GSM Association (GSMA) and the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF).