Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:171 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the risk of cancer from use of mobile phones in view of the most recent research. [8707/00]
Written Answers. - Cancer Incidence.
Details of the research referred to are not given by the Deputy. All significant research in this area is monitored by the Department of Public Enterprise with which my Department liaises regarding the human health aspects. The balance of scientific evidence to date does not indicate any significant health risk from non-ionising radiation associated with mobile phones and it has not been conclusively established that there is a causal link between this type of radiation and cancer.
It is estimated that there will be 500 million mobile phone users globally by the end of 2000. The kinds of illnesses that affect populations at large will also occur among mobile phone users. Research in this area is ongoing and the European Union under its fifth framework research programme allocated 160 million euros for international research projects. The results of this research will become available over the next three to four years. I am advised that the mobile phones in use here meet with the standards for exposure levels recommended by the EU for public exposure to non-ionising radiation emissions. Mobile phone users can further reduce personal exposure from handsets by use of a headset.