Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
187 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there is concrete medical evidence that mobile phones can cause cancer and that radiation from these phones is able to damage DNA in human cells. [1003/05]
View answer188 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if persons who use mobile phones for more than ten years have an increased risk of developing tumours and damage to brain tissue; and if she will clarify this medical evidence from Sweden. [1004/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.
The current consensus of authoritative scientific literature is that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to radio frequencies, RF, from mobile phones and ill health. Furthermore, research to date indicates that RF fields do not possess sufficient energy to cause direct damage to DNA.
The World Health Organisation has assessed the many reviews carried out in this area and has indicated that exposure below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection in its 1998 guidelines, covering the frequency range from0-300 GHz, does not produce any known adverse health effects. Telecommunication companies licensed to operate in Ireland are obliged to comply with these guidelines.
Research is ongoing in relation to this issue. The Swedish study to which the Deputy refers is part of the INTERPHONE study which is an international collaboration of 13 countries, coordinated by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer. The primary object of the INTERPHONE study is to establish whether RF exposure from mobile phones is associated with cancer risk. The interpretation and publication of results are a matter for the INTERPHONE international study group which is expected to produce its report in early 2005.
